The #RejectFinanceBill hashtag was tweeted four million times on X, attracting the attention of people nationally and globally. The hashtag entailed information on citizens’ demands on political accountability, civic education on various governance issues, calls for the release of citizens who have been unlawfully arrested or abducted, and community self-organizing on peaceful protests to take place. Interacting with these social media posts every time someone is on social media has stirred emotions and actions that have portrayed citizens’ awakening on various governance issues. A common phrase in Kenya right now is that every Kenyan has become an activist.

After a five-month delay, the Reverend Mutava Musyimi-led Taskforce formed to recommend more effective ways of regulating religious extremism submitted its report to President Ruto this week. Disappointingly, the report offers few fresh ideas.

Are Kenyans able to break the cycle of repetitive compulsion and seize this national moment to transform systemic issues that have festered and finally burst? Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud explored the concept of repetitive compulsion a century ago. Repetitive compulsion is the unconscious tendency of a person to repeat their response to a past traumatic event expecting new consequences. Rather than analyze what has happened and choose how to respond, individuals hit repeat. The concept can be applied to our national behaviour today.

20th July 2024: For decades, Civil Society Organizations in Kenya have been the backbone of our nation, tirelessly safeguarding democratic values and principles, amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities, promoting transparency and accountability, and ensuring the rights of all Kenyans are upheld. Their contributions have been instrumental in our nation’s growth and stability, and their efforts have consistently upheld the principles of justice and democracy.

Nairobi, 17 July 2024: The Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG-K) acknowledges the resignation of the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Japhet Koome, amid the several cases of deaths, serious injuries and abductions in the context of the protests that began as Anti-Finance Bill protests. These protests were marked by several cases of human rights violations by the National Police Service (NPS), including extra-judicial killings, abductions, torture and other ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrests.

Welcome to the Kenyan Freedom Writers Events page! Our campaign is a testament to the power of community, literature, and collective action.

On International Children’s Day, Amnesty International Kenya v will celebrate three years of impact with “RIGHTS Click @3: Reflecting on Three Years of Impact.”

As we acknowledge and recognize the efforts of all those who were involved in the constitutional-making process in one way or another, it’s important to pause and reflect on their impact. Their invaluable contributions gave birth to a progressive Constitution with provisions that would previously have been perceived as a dream. Public participation as a national value and principle has transformed our governance structures and promoted, to some extent, our laws and policies towards being people-centred.

We are celebrating three impactful years of RIGHTS Click, Amnesty International Kenya’s pioneering program dedicated to advancing digital rights for young people. Through this initiative, we have empowered young advocates to navigate and influence the digital landscape, equipping them with the skills to combat challenges like online harassment, digital rights violations, and misinformation. As we mark this milestone, we honor the resilience, achievements, and growth of young people who are shaping a digital space that respects human rights and dignity.

President Ruto’s commencement of the Public Benefits Organisations Act (2013) surprised most Kenyans. The Act is probably one of the most neglected yet significant laws in Kenyan history. Now that the Act has been operationalized, what does it mean for thousands of soon-to-be Public Benefits Organizations and the rest of the nation?

The world is experiencing a rollback on human rights gains, with a significant section of the population going through different types of repressions. The media is awash with news highlighting shrinking civic spaces, identity-based discrimination, and other forms of human rights violations. Globally, solidarity actions such as the global #FreePalestine movement can no longer be ignored. Solidarity in the African context is not merely about joining worthy causes; it is about appreciating Ubuntu, understanding that we are siblings and that what affects one of us inadvertently affects all of us, thus the obligation to rise against any injustice anywhere.

Widely recognized as one of the most vibrant civil society sectors in the Eastern Africa region, Kenya has upwards of 50,000 NGOs, foundations, trusts, occupation-based associations, and organisations working at national, county and community levels.