A coalition of human rights organizations and advocates has issued a strong statement condemning the Kenyan government’s handling of recent protests against the 2024 Finance Bill.
The protests, which have been marked by violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces, have resulted in 41 deaths, 361 injuries, and 674 arrests, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The statement, released in anticipation of the Saba Saba commemoration—a historic movement advocating for democratic reforms in Kenya—draws stark parallels between the current administration’s tactics and those used during President Moi’s regime in the 1990s.
Human rights actors have accused the government of deploying excessive and unnecessary force, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of intimidation against peaceful protestors.
The 2010 Constitution, which introduced a comprehensive Bill of Rights, is cited as a critical benchmark that the government has failed to uphold. The human rights coalition argues that the economic crisis and ensuing protests are a direct result of systematic disregard for constitutional principles, including misuse of taxes, unchecked public debt, and widespread corruption.
Despite the government’s public assertions of commitment to uphold the right to peaceful assembly as provided by Article 37 of the Constitution, the coalition highlights a significant gap between these declarations and the actual conduct of state actors. Reports indicate that security forces have used live bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets against unarmed civilians, journalists, medical personnel, and lawyers.
The coalition has called for several immediate measures from the government, including ceasing abductions and enforced disappearances, stopping the surveillance and intimidation of human rights defenders, ensuring the security of peaceful protestors, withdrawing lethal crowd control weapons, and releasing all individuals arbitrarily detained.
The statement also urges the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to expedite investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for unlawful actions during the protests. It stresses the need for holding superior officers accountable under the principle of Superior/Command Responsibility.
The human rights community emphasizes the importance of addressing historical injustices and calls on President William Ruto to lead efforts in acknowledging and remedying the violations suffered by protest victims. This includes issuing public apologies, providing access to healthcare, and offering compensation for socio-economic impacts.
Among the signatories of the statement are Amnesty International Kenya, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and the Law Society of Kenya, among others. These organizations stand in solidarity with the Kenyan people, advocating for accountability, good governance, and justice as the nation prepares for the Saba Saba demonstrations on 7 July 2024.