Kenya is among 18 countries that have been elected by the UN General Assembly to serve on the Human Rights Council.
In a statement, the UN said the countries will serve for three-year-terms starting January 1, 2025.
Kenya has been elected alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), Ethiopia, Gambia and Benin from Africa.
Other member states elected are Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Iceland, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.
Kenya applied to join the UN Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term on September 27, 2024.
The country committed to "advance and protect human rights for all."
But ahead of the voting on Wednesday in New York, human rights groups opposed Kenya's candidature premised on what they termed government's “gross and systemic human rights violations”.
The organizations led by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), accused the government of violating international laws, treaties and conventions on the protection of human rights.
They cited among other violations, defiance of court orders, unlawful killings, abductions and enforced disappearances, much of which the government has denied involvement and vowed to investigate and bring the culprits to book.
“The regime has committed serious atrocities and crimes against the public with little to no redress," the rights groups said in a letter to President of UN Human Rights Council.
"Many have fallen victim to gross and systemic human rights violations that verge on crimes against humanity. The Kenya police and other state institutions have been the main perpetrators of these violations and abuses," they said.
The letter was signed by KHCR, Center For Memory and Development, Democracy Without Borders Kenya, Grace Agenda, Kariobangi Paralegal Trust, Mazingira Institute, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), National Coalition For Human Rights Defenders and Usalama Reforms Forum.
The rights defenders claimed that the Kenya Kwanza government has deliberately failed to address serious violations since it came to power two years ago and instead continued to use state security and agencies to commit atrocities, which by definition of the Rome Statute, amount to crimes against humanity.
“Considering this, we urge the UN and the international community to reject Kenya's request for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. Granting such a position would severely undermine the credibility and mandate of the UN and its ability to hold perpetrators accountable,” the rights bodies said.