Kenya: conseptualising human rights in the context of big business

Corporate sectors worldwide have been in denial of their obligation to ensure that human rights are upheld within their company, argues Steve Ouma, Deputy Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission. "Until recently, the Government had been given full responsibility for building an environment conducive to ensuring non-punitive laws absolving investors from responsibility. At the same time, the Government was supporting their business. This lack of accountability was fuelled by the non-profit sector's narrow interpretation of their obligation to protect and promote human rights. Human rights activists, theoreticians, and practitioners left it to the state to ensure a human rights order from within itself and the non-state actors within its sphere."