Kenya hosts landmark summit on religious freedom in Africa

Delegates at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 17, 2025. / Credit: ACI Africa

ACI Africa, Jun 18, 2025 / 09:46 am (CNA).

Martha Karambu Koome, the chief justice in Kenya, called upon delegates at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Nairobi this week to have a “united stance” in fostering religious liberty.

As regional and global experts as well as proponents of religious freedom, the delegates gathered on Tuesday, June 17, for the first summit of its kind to be hosted by an African country.

In her address during the opening ceremony, delivered by Third Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya Honorable Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu, Koome emphasized the urgency of developing a collective response to the multiple cases of religious persecution, discrimination, and extremism on the continent.

“We must adopt a united stance — one that upholds religious freedom not only as a legal right but also as a cornerstone of Africa’s democratic and evolving institutions,” Koome said to attendees gathered at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel.

“Let this summit be remembered as a turning point — a moment when Africa stood up, not merely in defense of freedom of religion or belief but in pursuit of a richer, deeper peace grounded in dignity, justice, and the recognition of our shared humanity,” she said.

The chief justice praised the Religious Freedom Institute and the International Religious Freedom Summit for convening what she described as a “very timely conference on African soil.” 

“Around the world, and particularly in parts of Africa, we are witnessing an alarming rise in incidents of religious persecution, restrictions on religious expression, and violent extremism and violence,” she said.

“These violations are not just attacks on religious freedoms,” Koome added. “They strike at the very fabric of our societies and threaten the social cohesion essential for sustainable peace and development.”

Addressing the summit’s theme of religious freedom and its defense in courts and society, Koome underscored the judiciary’s unique responsibility.

“An independent, impartial, and accessible judiciary is the cornerstone of constitutional democracy. Through progressive jurisprudence, African courts have increasingly demonstrated their capacity to stand as bulwarks against discrimination, marginalization, and complicity,” she said.

In the speech, Koome emphasized that courts must “position themselves as a critical center against both state and non-state actors that threaten religious liberty.”

At the same time, she pointed to the transformative power of faith leaders, describing them as “ethical innovators and peace leaders” and as essential actors in times of crisis, mediation, and reconciliation.

“Faith communities are often the first to respond in times of crisis, the voice of conscience in the moment of moral failure, and the bridge-builders in the context of religious and ethnic tensions,” she said.

The chief justice emphasized that religious freedom cannot be safeguarded in isolation, urging solidarity, collaboration, and a united continental commitment.

“It is therefore imperative that we act together and with identity. The ILO [International Labor Organization] Summit Africa presents a unique platform for continental consensus, sharing innovative approaches and post-apocalyptic frameworks to promote and protect religious freedom,” she said.

Koome also said that what attendees learn from the summit “will help us position our courts with a critical center against both state-of-the-art and state actors that threaten religious liberty.”

The one-day event sought to explore “the impact of government actions on religious freedom” on the continent.

In a series of sessions under the theme “Africa Together: A Continental Call to Religious Freedom,” the co-chairs of the IRF Summit and a variety of civil society leaders from across Africa facilitated discussions around “the context, the challenges, and the path forward for freedom of religion and belief” in the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent after Asia.

In her address, Koome lauded the organizers of the one-day IRF Summit for choosing Kenya to host the event.

“Kenya is deeply honored to host this milestone event. It speaks to the heart of who we are as a nation and as a continent,” she said.

Highlighting Kenya’s progressive 2010 constitution, the chief justice reminded participants of its foundational principles: human dignity, equality, inclusiveness, and freedom of conscience, religion, belief, and opinion, as enshrined in Article 32.

Kenya, she said, offers a model for constitutional protection of religious diversity and political expression.

“We are a pluralistic society that embraces multiculturalism and respects the dignity of every person to worship, or not to worship, in accordance with their conscience,” she said. “This constitutional design reflects our broader African leadership and commitment to peaceful coexistence, communal harmony, and mutual respect.”

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.