[JURIST] The Kenyan government Friday said in response to a report [press release] by the UN Committee on Torture [official website] focusing on post-election violence that occurred in the country in late 2007 and early 2008 that it was taking initiatives to eliminate torture and other inhumane treatment. CAT highlighted cases of gender-based violence and gang rapes by police and other security forces, and discussed police corruption among other rights-related problems. In a statement [text, PDF; UN press release] Kenyan Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Martha Karua [official profile] said that since 2003 the government has closed torture chambers, amended its criminal laws and made it easier to citizens to report abusive acts. AFP has more.

Last month, a commission established [JURIST report] by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki [official profile] to review the events following last year's election released a report [JURIST report], recommending the establishment of an international tribunal to try those involved. Kibaki created the commission to ease the domestic and international tension that was a result of the controversial election [JURIST report], including threats from 13 nations to cut off aid to the Kenyan government [JURIST report].