Western embassies in Kenya have urged restraint ahead of nationwide rallies planned to mark last year’s deadly protests, voicing concern over the use of paid agitators to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.
Tensions remain high in the East African nation after recent protests against police brutality were confronted by gangs, locally known as “goons,” armed with whips and clubs. These groups, who appeared to be collaborating with police, were deployed to break up rallies, raising alarm among rights groups and foreign diplomats.
While this year’s protests have been smaller, they coincide with the anniversary of the events of 25 June 2024, when thousands of demonstrators, angry at proposed tax hikes and demanding President William Ruto’s resignation, stormed parliament. Security forces responded with live ammunition. Rights organisations report that at least 60 people were killed during weeks of unrest in June and July 2024, with many others illegally detained in the aftermath.
Activists and the families of those who lost their lives have called for peaceful marches across the country to honour the victims. They have urged politicians, police officers, and hired plain-clothed agitators to refrain from disrupting the memorials.
In a joint statement, the embassies of Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, and Finland appealed for a peaceful assembly.
“We are troubled by the use of hired ‘goons’ to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings,” the statement read. “Protecting the right to protest is vital to preserving civic space and is a cornerstone of Kenya’s vibrant democracy.”
The statement also referenced the wave of arrests that followed last year’s demonstrations, noting that the use of plain-clothed officers in unmarked vehicles had been declared unlawful by Kenya’s High Court earlier this year. Such tactics, the embassies warned, “erode public trust”.
President Ruto, however, has backed the security forces, telling officers that his government would continue to support them. “You cannot use force against the police or insult or threaten the police. You are threatening our nation,” he said.
Kenya’s security forces have faced renewed criticism after the recent death of a teacher while in police custody, reigniting the long-standing issue of police brutality.
In a statement, police authorities acknowledged that “some unfortunate and isolated incidents” had occurred, but insisted that the service remained committed to “professional, efficient, and responsive” policing focused on serving the public. They emphasised that protests would be permitted provided they remained “peaceful and unarmed”.
