Dr. Abdi Mohamed

As documented in Amnesty International’s 2024/25 State of the Human Rights Global Report, billions of people and international human rights law face a multiplicity of assaults. The most pernicious of these is the steady spread of authoritarian laws and practices that deliberately target civil liberties, civic and media freedoms, as well as economic and social rights.

Tragically, what should have been a peaceful Saba Saba celebration of Kenya’s fight for human rights and democratic governance turned into a harsh show of state force on 7 July 2025. To stop protests, the government used excessive force, made arbitrary arrests, and sealed off public spaces. Roads into Nairobi were blocked, especially affecting low-income areas like Githurai, Mlolongo, Roysambu, Kitengela, and Ruaraka, effectively denying many Kenyans their right to protest. While hundreds were injured, at least 43 people died from gunshot wounds suspected to be from police issued firearms. The incident included 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki, who was shot dead by police while watching TV at home. 

Nairobi, 24 June 2025: Amnesty International Kenya takes serious note of mass media reports documenting how violent instigators worked in collusion with or with the consent of police officers during the 17 June protest. The allegations that senior government officials are involved in plans to infiltrate peaceful gatherings and instigate violence must be investigated.

Nairobi, Wednesday, June 18, 2025: The Police Reforms Working Group strongly condemns the deliberate infiltration of peaceful protests by hundreds of violent agitators who attacked protesters and caused mayhem in the County of Nairobi. The violence has resulted in the shooting of at least one unarmed bystander. Twenty-five people had also been hospitalised, five with gunshot wounds by 9 pm last night. Apart from serious injuries to individuals, there was uncalculated damage to private businesses and public property across the capital.

The National Police Service bears the primary responsibility of facilitating peaceful assemblies for Kenyans exercising their constitutional rights. Since 25 June 2024, the courts have also pronounced themselves on what is acceptable police conduct during the exercise of people’s right to peaceful assembly. Officers and their commanders will be individually liable for violating international human rights standards, the Constitution and Kenyan law.

Nairobi, 30 December 2024: The Law Society of Kenya, Medics For Kenya, Kenya Medical Association and Police Reforms Working Group closely monitored and documented the forceful disruption of peaceful citizen’s protests across Embu, Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret throughout the day.

Following President William Ruto’s public declaration that his government will release all those abducted, the Law Society of Kenya, Medics 4 Kenya and Police Reforms Working Group call on the National Police Service to immediately release Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplangat, Steve Kavingo and all others abducted and still being held since last week.

This week, Kenya was downgraded from “obstructed” to “repressed” category in the influential CIVICUS State of Civil Society report. With several events planned over the next two weeks, what can the Kenya Kwanza administration, independent state institutions, civic organisations and citizens practically do to recover Kenya’s standing in the world?

Happy Madaraka Day, all. First celebrated on 1 June 1963, the date Kenyans took back internal self-rule from British colonialism, the day finds its most significance in 2024 by asking how truly free we are all.

As the sun sets over the bustling streets of Dakar, delegates from across the African and Middle Eastern regions gather at the Amnesty International regional forum; their voices echo a shared commitment to uphold human rights amidst myriad challenges. Against the backdrop of conflict, displacement, and authoritarianism, the forum serves as a beacon of hope, uniting advocates and activists in a collective pursuit of justice.

Amnesty International Kenya invites interested volunteers to join our Protests Observation Project. Those who succeed will join a group of human rights observers who will attend assemblies, protests, or demonstrations to monitor, collect and document incidents.