Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide information on the recent claim by the National Commission on Human Rights in Kenya that police were to blame for the execution of some 500 members of the Mungiki tribe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30885/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the report from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to which the Deputy refers.

The Mungiki came into existence in 1980 as a political grouping of members of the Kikuyu tribe, but over time has transformed into a criminal syndicate which is allegedly involved in extortion and may be responsible for several murders. It goes without saying that all police operations aimed at criminal activity of any kind should comply with Kenyan law and with international human rights standards, and any allegations of wrongdoing must be fully and energetically investigated.

Preliminary investigations by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights suggest that, between June and October 2007, over 450 bodies of young men have been found which display evidence of their having been summarily executed. The very large number of killings of young men in Kenya during the period in question is a matter of concern, irrespective of who is responsible, and every effort needs to be made by the Kenyan authorities to bring the assailants to justice.

Considering the seriousness of these allegations, European Union Heads of Mission in Nairobi will be pursuing the issue with the Kenyan Government. The European Union has regular political dialogue with Kenya in Nairobi under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement, and governance and human rights issues are raised regularly in this context. Our Embassy in Tanzania, which is responsible for Kenya, will also be following the issue closely and maintaining contact with EU Missions resident in Nairobi.