Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - The United States has raised alarm over what it describes as a worsening human rights situation in Kenya, according to its 2024 Kenya Human Rights Report.
The report cites an increase in arbitrary killings, enforced
disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrests, particularly during the 2024
anti-Finance Bill protests.
It accuses security forces of using excessive force,
including live ammunition and tear gas, leading to deaths and injuries,
especially among youth in the “Gen Z” demonstrations.
Media freedom also came under scrutiny, with the report
documenting threats, censorship, and violence against journalists.
It highlighted claims that government officials attempted to
restrict coverage of protests, noting President William Ruto’s criticism that
some media “glorified anarchy” through selective live broadcasts.
Other issues flagged include the persistence of the worst
forms of child labour and cases of transnational repression, such as the
alleged abduction of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye in Nairobi.
While the Kenyan Government reportedly took some steps to
address abuses, the report warned that impunity remains entrenched at all
levels.
It stressed that these patterns of violations, from
extra-judicial killings to suppression of free expression, mark a deterioration
from previous years, raising serious concerns for the country’s democratic and
human rights commitments.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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