§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with(a) the Government of Kenya and (b) the British high commission in Nairobi regarding political and ethnic violence and human rights abuses in Kenya; and what projects her Government support to promote justice for victims of ethnic and political violence in Kenya. [66812]
§ Clare ShortBritish officials and I raise these issues regularly in our frequent contacts with the Kenyan Government. Our programme in Kenya includes a project co-funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence to prevent and settle internal conflict. We also support organisations offering legal aid to disadvantaged people including those who may be affected by ethnic and political violence; and we are working with the Kenyan Government to develop a pilot legal aid scheme.
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§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to promote democratic reform in Kenya. [66810]
§ Clare ShortDFID' s Political Empowerment Programme together with other donors' programmes, aim to strengthen Kenya's political system by enabling poor and marginalised groups to organise and influence government and strengthening democratic institutions including Parliament. In addition DFID and high commission officials have frequent contacts with the Kenyan Government and Opposition on democratic issues.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the level of(a) political violence and (b) human rights abuses in Kenya; and how her Department responds to such violence and human rights abuses. [66811]
§ Clare ShortMy officials in Nairobi, working in close consultation with our British High Commission, carefully monitor all reports of political violence and human rights abuses in Kenya and raise any concerns with the relevant authorities.