“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Lord Acton may have spoken these words in the 19th century, but their truth echoes across every corridor where authority is exercised today. Power, by its very nature, bends toward self-preservation. It seeks silence over scrutiny, loyalty over competence, and convenience over accountability. And this is not just a political phenomenon; it manifests anywhere leadership is exercised without meaningful checks. When leaders begin to ignore dissenting voices and sideline alternative opinions, they create an echo chamber where their interests masquerade as the collective good. That echo chamber becomes even more dangerous depending on the people a leader chooses to surround themselves with. Power curates its own company, and often, it chooses loyalty over integrity.

The 27 November by-elections have all the signs of a mini General Election. Given that our two neighbouring governments, Tanzania and Uganda, have provided clear evidence on how not to prepare for elections, can the Kenyan authorities demonstrate any difference?

Tuesday, 15th July 2025 | Nairobi, Kenya: The Police Reforms Working Group expresses deep concern over the widespread human rights violations and loss of life that occurred during the July 7, 2025, Saba Saba Day protests. These events, symbolic of Kenya’s hard-won democratic gains, were marred by state violence, unlawful policing tactics, and systemic impunity.

As East Africa’s Finance Ministers unveiled their budgets this week, the region’s top philanthropic funders met in Kigali amid growing uncertainty in global development financing. For all that gathered, it was clear that without bold, innovative action, development financing faces an uncertain future.

Online Predators is a powerful, visually engaging resource designed to raise awareness and empower children and caregivers to stay safe from the growing dangers of online luring, child abduction, and trafficking.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Albert Ojwang, who died last night at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.

This edition of the Amnesty Kenya Gazette arrives at a moment of reckoning and resilience. In recent weeks, we have celebrated landmark legal victories—including the ruling against Worldcoin’s illegal data harvesting practices and long-overdue progress in the Baby Pendo case, where officers were finally held accountable for police brutality. These wins serve as reminders that justice, though delayed, can prevail. At the same time, we confront disturbing setbacks: the crackdown on filmmakers, the resurgence of digital surveillance through the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, and the Tanzanian government’s brutal treatment of human rights defenders. In May, we launched two searing reports—Missing Voices 2023 and Locked In, Left Out—exposing the pain of police violence and the harrowing abuse faced by Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. These truths, though difficult, fuel our collective demand for dignity, accountability, and reform. Through every campaign, court ruling, and act of courage, we continue to protect those whose voices the state seeks to erase.

Amnesty International Kenya aspires to a Kenya where everyone lives with dignity, freedom, and equality, enjoying all constitutional rights and responsibilities. Our 1,500 members, Kenyan board and staff are committed to confronting injustice and human rights violations through research, campaigning, human rights education and public interest litigation. More www.amnestykenya.org

Nairobi, 19 May 2025: Amnesty International is shocked to read the response of the Kenyan Ambassador to Saudia Arabia Mohammed Ruwange to our 12 May 2025 report Saudi Arabia: Locked in, left out: The hidden lives of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.  

Ukiwa katika nchi kama Saudi Arabia, huna pesa, uko peke yako kwa hivyo huna msaada wowote… Nilikuwa nimefungiwa ndani, kutoka nje haikuruhusiwa. Sijawahi kutoka nje ya nyumba na sikuwahi kuwa na siku ya mapumziko.

Wanawake wa Kenya ambao huajiriwa kufanya kazi za nyumbani Saudi Arabia hulazimika kuvumilia mazingira ya kazi ambayo ni ya kikatili na kibaguzi. Mazingira haya yanaweza kufananishwa na kazi ya kulazimishwa na ulanguzi wa watu, Amnesty International imesema katika ripoti yake. Ripoti hiyo inaangazia namna waajiri wanavyowanyanyasa wanawake hawa majumbani mwao kutokana na mitazamo ya ubaguzi wa rangi, na namna wafanyakazi wa nyumbani wanavyotengwa na sheria ya kazi na mageuzi yanayohusiana na kazi nchini Saudi Arabia.

Nairobi, 13th May 2025: Kenyan women hired as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia endure gruelling, abusive and discriminatory working conditions, which often amount to forced labour and human trafficking, Amnesty International said in a new report. The report highlights how employers subjected the women to extreme exploitation in private homes, often fuelled by racism, and how domestic workers continue to be excluded from Saudi Arabia’s labour law and other limited reforms.