The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) has called on the government to provide a detailed explanation on the deportation of Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) legal advisor Martin Mavenjina.
The pan-African network of judges and jurists expressed concern over the deportation, describing Mavenjina as a respected human rights practitioner.
“Provide accountability by releasing a detailed public account of the facts and circumstances surrounding Mavenjina’s deportation, and take appropriate action if there was any abuse of authority in his treatment,” AJJF General Secretary Martin Okumu Masiga said.
Masiga further urged the government to uphold Mavenjina’s rights, including his freedom of movement and residence, and his right to remain in Kenya without arbitrary expulsion.
He also called for the protection of due process and fair administrative action.
“Commit to future protection, including refraining from acts of intimidation, harassment, or unlawful removal of individuals lawfully residing in the country,” Masiga added.
Mavenjina had reportedly returned to Kenya on Saturday night from an official trip to South Africa but was deported shortly after arrival.
The KHRC described the deportation as unlawful, noting that Mavenjina holds a valid work permit allowing him to work in Kenya.
Masiga also urged the government to comply with regional and international obligations, including Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees freedom of movement and prohibits arbitrary expulsion.
“The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders affirms in Articles 1 and 12 that individuals such as Mr Mavenjina have the right to promote and protect human rights without fear of intimidation or retaliation,” he said.
He added that Kenya’s Constitution, under Article 39, enshrines the right to freedom of movement, while Article 47 guarantees fair administrative action.
“These obligations require authorities to respect and protect the rights of all individuals, including human rights defenders, and ensure that measures like deportation strictly follow due process and are not used to target civil society actors,” Masiga said.
