In August, we took bold steps for justice, equality, and good governance—from the streets to the courts. Justice finally caught up with the killer of activist Elizabeth Ekaru, and we saw significant progress in the fight for justice for Baby Samantha Pendo. The Gen Z demonstrations showed the undeniable power of peaceful organizing to drive positive change. We led the charge for digital rights and gathered 121 diverse delegates at our Third Annual Delegates Conference, where they held us accountable and shaped the next 12 months of our campaigns. Dive into this month’s Amnesty Kenya Gazette for more.
In this issue:
Protecting the Protest
In June and July, Gen Z-led protests against proposed punitive taxes evolved into a powerful call for accountability and sweeping government reforms. Despite the Finance Bill 2024 being withdrawn, the State’s response was brutal. Police unleashed excessive force on peaceful protestors, and the infiltration of sponsored goons escalated the situation into violence and looting. The country also witnessed a disturbing spike in enforced disappearances, a clear attempt to intimidate dissenting voices and coerce those abducted into revealing protest organizers, financiers, and plans. Meanwhile, civil society organizations came under increased state scrutiny.
Supported by Amnesty’s Regional Office for East and Southern Africa, we spearheaded the defense of peaceful protestors’ rights and fought back against repression. Through the #ProtectTheProtest campaign, we trained and deployed observers across 10 counties. We worked with mass associations of doctors, lawyers, and human rights defenders to respond to protestors at risk. We issued over 10 powerful statements and op-eds condemning the police’s excessive force, enforced disappearances, and military deployment, while raising awareness on CNN, NTV, and SABC, and calling for justice.
Our global movement rallied behind a petition demanding a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the state’s response to the protests. This advocacy has made a significant impact, protecting over 500 peaceful protestors and 100 medical professionals. Amnesty’s statements have deepened public understanding and engagement with the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. If you have not signed the petition, we encourage you to do so today.
We remain steadfast in defending the rights of all Kenyans and holding the government accountable. Together, we will continue to stand against repression and support the courageous individuals fighting for a better future for Kenya.
Digital Rights Festival
In the Western region, we proudly hosted Digital Rights Festivals that ignited a powerful movement among high school students, all united in their commitment to raising awareness about the Right to Privacy for children and young people. On 9th and 16th July, two dynamic festivals unfolded across different schools, where over 2,000 students came together to showcase their creativity through impactful artwork, poetry, and plays centered on digital rights. These events were not just celebrations but a bold statement of our collective dedication to safeguarding the digital rights of the next generation. Special recognition was given to the essay competition winners, Dorcas Nyamwaya and Dekel Baraka Okelo.
High Court Ruling Marks Major Step Towards Justice for Baby Pendo and Victims of 2017 Post-Election Violence
The July High Court ruling, which found 11 Police Commanders and Officers accountable in the case of Baby Samantha Pendo, marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice—not only for Baby Pendo but for all victims of the 2017 post-election violence. These officers now face 47 grave charges, including crimes against humanity such as murder, torture, and rape.
In 2017, the police stormed Nyalenda Kilo in Kisumu during post-election protests. As Baby Pendo’s mother fled from tear gas, she was met with brutal police force. Tragically, six-month-old Baby Pendo lost her life in the chaos. The inquest, which began in 2019, sought to hold senior officers accountable, culminating in 2022 when the ODPP charged 12 police commanders under the International Crimes Act, integrating the Rome Statute into Kenyan law.
Despite multiple attempts to challenge these charges through consolidated constitutional petitions, this ruling ruling stands firm, affirming the jurisdiction of Kenyan Courts to hear the case in accordance with Kenyan laws and procedures, rather than those of the ICC. This decision represents a critical stride toward justice for all who suffered during the 2017 Post-Election Violence. The judge also dismissed claims that NGOs had improperly influenced the ODPP to bring charges against the officers and renewed a Warrant of Arrest for an officer who persistently failed to appear in court.
As we reflect on the landmark ruling in Baby Pendo’s case, let us also take a moment to honor her memory and the countless others who have suffered due to injustice. Their lives fuel our fight for a better Kenya, where every child can grow up in a world free from violence and fear.
Third Annual Delegates Conference
The 2024 Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) took Amnesty International Kenya members to a new level of ownership and engagement. Held at Luke Hotel in Nairobi on August 14-15, the conference underscored the power of delegates drawn from Amnesty members and Circles of Conscience across the country.
With 121 delegates representing 74 Circles of Conscience from 15 counties, the conference focused on shaping the future of human rights advocacy. The conference featured two-panel discussions on Gen Z-led protests and digital activism, emphasizing the pivotal role of young people in social change.
Under ADC Chairperson Onesmus Mosoti’s leadership, delegates reviewed and approved reports from the Secretariat, Board Chairperson, Treasurer, and the 2025 Plan and Budget. They debated and voted on five key motions, including adjusting ADC Prep Committee timelines, introducing new membership categories, electing two new board members, and confirming Onesmus Mosoti as ADC Chairperson.
Delegates also received training on the power and procedures of introducing motions and elected Anthony Akolo Etemesi and Hussein Khalid to the board, along with Kenneth Okoth and Zaria Gikonyo to the Preparatory and Nominations Committees, respectively. Board Chairperson Dr. Stellah Bosire presented the annual report, reaffirming the board’s commitment to the shared mission of championing human rights for all and urging delegates to stay united and resilient.
Justice for Elizabeth Ekaru
After three years in the corridors of justice, Meru High Court Judge Hon. Justice Edward Muriithi has delivered a landmark verdict, finding Mr. Patrick Naweet guilty of the brutal murder of Isiolo-based woman human rights defender Elizabeth Ekaru. Ekaru’s killing is a tragic example of the many femicides that continue to plague Kenya. As a dedicated Woman Human Rights Defender, her invaluable contributions to peacebuilding and the fight for women’s rights cannot be overlooked. This conviction underscores the urgent need to classify femicide as a distinct and serious offence. The time taken to reach this judgment demonstrates that with genuine commitment and collaboration, justice is attainable..
Take Action: Join the Maasai’s Fight for Their Land
The Maasai Indigenous People of Loliondo in Tanzania cherish one thing above all: their land. Their identity, spiritual beliefs, and culture are deeply tied to it.
For the Maasai, Loliondo is not just a place – it is home. It sustains them with food, water, and medicine, provides grazing land for their livestock, and has done so for generations. They care for the land, and in return, the land provides for them.
However, they have suffered violent forced evictions in 2009, 2013, 2017, and most recently in 2022. Security forces used excessive force, including live ammunition and tear gas, to remove them from a 1,500km² area, now known as Pololeti Game Reserve, in the name of conservation projects that ban human settlement and livestock grazing under the guise of ‘wildlife conservation.’
Despite these evictions, the Maasai of Loliondo have always returned, rising to defend their land and demanding that their ancestral rights be recognized and protected. Their resilience is undeniable—they stand as a powerful community of Indigenous Africans, fighting to secure their future.
Now, they need your support.
Sign our petition urging President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania to halt these harmful ‘conservation’ projects in Loliondo, conduct a thorough investigation into corporate involvement in forced evictions, and engage in meaningful consultation with the Maasai community before further interference with their land.
As Africans, let us stand together with the Maasai of Loliondo.
Statements Issued
May
- Solidarity Statement on the Recent Evictions in Nairobi Informal Settlements – Amnesty Kenya
- Data Protection Act Amendment in the Finance Bill is classic “big brother”, illegal and must be rejected by the National Assembly and Kenyans – Amnesty Kenya
June
- Haiti: human rights safeguards must guide security mission (amnestykenya.org)
- Amnesty to Deploy Protest Observers at Occupy Parliament Demos (amnestykenya.org)
- Release #OccupyParliament Protestors (amnestykenya.org)
- Joint Public Safety Advisory Ahead of Nation-Wide Demonstrations – Amnesty Kenya
- Joint Public Safety Statement on Nationwide Demonstrations – Amnesty Kenya
- Statement on the Arbitrary Arrest of Content Creators – Amnesty Kenya
- Statement on Possible Internet Disruptions during #RejectFinanceBill2024 Demonstrations – Amnesty Kenya
- Statement on Abductions of Citizens Suspected of Involvement in #RejectFinanceBill2024 Protests – Amnesty Kenya
- Joint Statement on Nationwide Demonstrations – Amnesty Kenya
- Human rights-based guidelines on the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces in the context of protests in Kenya – Amnesty Kenya
July
- Joint Statement on Current Crisis Facing Kenya – Amnesty Kenya
- Kenya: Security services must respect fundamental rights during nationwide protests – Amnesty Kenya
- STATEMENT ON THE DISCOVERY OF DISMEMBERED BODIES IN KWARE DUMPSITE, NAIROBI. – Amnesty Kenya
- Call for the Competitive Recruitment of Next Police Inspector General and Establishment of a Culture of Command Responsibility – Amnesty Kenya
- Defending the Vital Role of Civil Society Organizations in Kenya – Amnesty Kenya
- High Court Ruling is Justice for 2017 Post-Election Violence Victims (amnestykenya.org)