The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention earlier today of — at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The three Kenyan advocates were detained shortly after arriving in Tanzania, where they had travelled on a lawful mission to observe the ongoing judicial proceedings involving Hon. Advocate Tundu Lissu, Chairperson of the opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA).

Their detention raises serious concerns about violations of fundamental human rights and the erosion of due process. Notably, the trio was engaged in a legitimate and internationally recognized human rights activity — trial observation — which is explicitly protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

It is essential to emphasize that trial observation is not merely a procedural formality, it is a critical safeguard that upholds the integrity of legal proceedings, especially in politically sensitive cases such as that of Hon. Advocate Lissu. The presence of independent observers helps deter judicial misconduct, promotes transparency, and strengthens public trust in the justice system.

The KHRC affirms that observers must be granted unrestricted access to all aspects of the trial process, including the presentation of evidence and the conduct of judicial officers. Any obstruction of this right undermines the rule of law and opens the door to political interference and judicial bias.

In view of these serious transgressions, the KHRC hereby issues the following demands:

1. That Tanzanian authorities uphold their binding obligations under international human rights law, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2. Strict observance of due process in all judicial proceedings, free from political interference or intimidation.
3. That independent trial observers be granted full, unfettered access to all court proceedings related to this case, in accordance with international norms and standards.

Lastly, targeting human rights defenders and legal professionals for lawfully performing their duties constitutes a grave and unacceptable violation of fundamental freedoms. Such actions set a dangerous and regressive precedent with far-reaching implications for the rule of law and democratic governance in the region. We therefore urge the international community, civil society organizations, regional bodies, and all advocates of justice and human rights to unequivocally condemn these infringements and to stand in steadfast solidarity with the impacted individuals.

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)

Editor's note: Read the play and the court's decision here.

Scenes of armed, uniformed police barring students, journalists and the public from watching a school play while lobbing teargas at them at dawn are straight out of the Gestapo playbook.

Students of Butere Girls' High School responded with patriotic courage to the cruelty of the Ministry of Education in scheduling their performance at 6 a.m. as part of state repression by singing the national anthem and walking off the stage. The High Court directed that the play proceed, and the Drama Festival Committee staged the performance at dawn to comply with the court's ruling in a criminal manner.

Other schools have elected not to perform at the National School and Drama Festival owing to the repressive atmosphere that has descended on this year’s event.

We commend and celebrate the courage and patriotism of Kenya’s students in the face of an oppressive and insecure state and commit our solidarity with them. They have been fearless in taking this important play and continuing it even after threats from the State House.

This violent assault on the freedoms of thought, conscience, information, expression and opinion—guaranteed by no less than the Constitution[1]-- violates the state’s obligation to provide education to children.

Over the 66 years that the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival has been held each year, it has evolved into a site for speaking truth to power. Still, none of the regimes that have ruled over Kenya in that time has exposed its vulnerability through crude repression as in the present case.

Regimes that ban, circumscribe or stifle artistic expression, such as the Butere Girls' High School play “Echoes of War”, only confirm the truth in the art. The William Ruto regime fears the truth that 50 students speaking from a high school auditorium can infect the public.

The muscular tactics of muzzling artistic expression and dialogic learning, including the attack and injury of six journalists during the arrest of Cleophas Malala, the play’s director, tell the youth of this country that those who run the government are enemies of the people. The message being unwittingly sent out is that youth are not allowed to imagine a future shaped by young people who confront oppressors, call out injustice, and create change. That message is a monumental falsehood that must be demolished.

After months of rehearsals and nationwide acclaim, the girls who performed this play at the sub-county, county, and regional levels did what artists are expected to do in times of uncertainty. They held up a mirror to society and spoke for a generation often misrepresented, dismissed, or silenced.

The High Court has already affirmed that the girls have the right to perform the school play. The Ministry of Education, the Drama Festival Committee, and state agencies must respect the law as it stands. This violation chips away at the foundation of our republic.

The parallels between this play and Kenya’s Gen-Z revolution of 2024, in which young people took to the streets to challenge power and demand good governance, might bring back uncomfortable memories for Ruto, who was forced to veto the punitive Finance Bill but had police kill scores to silence them. Gen-Z’s courage reminded the world that people’s power can unseat even the most stubborn autocrats.

Education is meant to prepare the young to lead. The scenes at the drama festival are another awakening of our collective conscience. Consequently, due to the gross violation of the constitution and contempt of the court order, we demand the following:

1. The Butere Girls students should be allowed to perform “Echoes of War” at the National Drama Festival without any conditions, delays, or reprisals, and they should be provided with psychosocial support for the trauma and intimidation they have endured.
2. No student, teacher, or school administrator is subjected to intimidation, disciplinary action, or retaliation for participating in the production or standing in its defense.
3. The Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries for Interior and Education, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director of Criminal Investigations, and all regional and local education and security officials involved in this unconstitutional interference immediately resign and face prosecution for abuse of office, violation of human rights, and contempt of the court order.
4. Cleophas Malala, the director of the play, should be released immediately and unconditionally, and any charges or investigations against him should be dropped.
5. The government immediately ceases its growing culture of censorship and repression and ensures that all Kenyans remain vigilant, resilient, and unyielding in the face of deepening authoritarianism.
6. Police officers who attacked the six journalists must be held to account, and immediate measures must be taken to protect media freedom and ensure the safety of journalists while they work.

KHRC is closely monitoring the situation and exploring appropriate legal remedies to ensure the culprits are held accountable.

Historical background

The experience of Butere Girls' High School students reminds us of the legacy of the Kamirithu Community Educational and Cultural Centre and its moving theatre. This was a revolutionary initiative in the late 1970s led by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Born from a grassroots effort in Kamirithu village, the theatre used storytelling and performance in Gĩkũyũ to address issues like land struggles and political betrayal in post-independence Kenya. When the play Ngaahika Ndeenda became popular for challenging the ruling elite, the government responded with brutal repression, razing the cultural centre and banning the theatre.

[1] See Constitution of Kenya, Articles 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 on freedom of thought, conscience, belief and opinion; freedom of expression; freedom of information and association.

The Clerk, National Assembly

Tel: 254 2 2221291 or 2848000

Fax: 254 2 2243694

E-mail: cna@parliament.go.ke

March 6, 2025

Dear Mr. Samuel Njoroge, CBS,

PETITION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY UNDER ARTICLES 1, 2, 10, 26, 28, 29, 37, 48, 118, AND 119 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA AND PETITIONS TO PARLIAMENT (PROCEDURES) ACT AND STANDING ORDERS 219 AND 223 OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WE, the undersigned, comprise an organization and coalitions that push for good governance, an end to mass atrocities, and reparations for historical injustices. Specifically, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) is a human rights and governance non-governmental organization duly registered in Kenya since 1994. KHRC has played a critical role in protecting and fostering human rights, democratic values, human dignity, and social justice in Kenya and beyond. The Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ) is a coalition of over 30 Kenyan and East African legal, human rights, and governance organizations, together with ordinary Kenyans and friends of Kenya, convened in the immediate aftermath of 2007’s presidential election debacle. KPTJ maintains that there can be no peace without truth and justice. The National Victims and Survivors Network (NVSN) is the umbrella body comprising various victims’ groups that have suffered human rights violations and historical injustices. NVSN was formed because of a resolution after a National Victims Convention, which was held in 2009 on the heels of the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation and at the onset of the truth, justice and reconciliation process.

DRAW the attention of the National Assembly to the following:

1. THAT Kenya has endured a long history of state-perpetrated injustices from 1895. February and March, in particular, have been marred by grave and systemic human rights violations committed by both colonial and post-independence regimes. These include the execution of Dedan Kimathi on February 18, 1957, the assassination of Pio Gama Pinto on February 24, 1965, the murder of Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, popularly known as JM around March 2, 1975, the Wagalla Massacre on February 10, 1984, and the assassination of Robert Ouko around February 13, 1990, among others—many of which are documented in Kenya’s Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report.
2. THAT for the past two decades, this period has served as a political moment to commemorate these injustices and sustain the quest for truth and justice. The continued failure to address these atrocities has entrenched a culture of impunity, where state actors—shielded by official amnesty—face no consequences for their actions.
3. THAT these politically motivated killings from the past drew troubling parallels to the Gen-Z crackdown last year. It follows a familiar pattern: opposition to a repressive administration, mass abductions that make tracing victims nearly impossible, extrajudicial killings where bodies remain unaccounted for, and ultimately, the absence of truth and accountability.

Public apology

4. THAT the TJRC, established in 2008, addressed Kenya’s historical injustices and human rights violations. Its formation aimed to respond to decades of political repression, ethnic violence, land disputes, economic marginalization, and state-backed brutality—many of which, including assassinations, can be traced back to the colonial era and have persisted under subsequent regimes.
5. THAT in May 2013, TJRC submitted its report to President Uhuru Kenyatta. While it was later tabled in the National Assembly, it has yet to be debated or adopted. The report implicated the government in the assassinations of JM, Pinto, and Ouko. TJRC provided recommendations on how the state could atone for its actions during the Kenyatta and Moi regimes.
6. THAT one key recommendation called for public apologies for colonial and post-colonial injustices.

Lack of public access to investigative materials

7. THAT TJRC recommended the government release all records from past investigations into these assassinations through the National Archives within six months of the report’s publication. However, these materials have yet to be made accessible to the public.

No memorials honoring assassinated leaders

8. THAT the TJRC also recommended constructing monuments to honor Kenya’s assassinated leaders, incorporating educational elements to highlight their contributions. These memorials, whether statues, museums, or institutions, were to be completed within two years of the report’s release. However, these monuments have yet to be constructed.
9. THAT in 2015, President Kenyatta and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga apologized for the atrocities—albeit two years later than the TJRC’s suggested three-month window. While this was a step in the right direction, several critical recommendations, particularly those concerning political assassinations, as highlighted in paragraphs seven and eight, remain unfulfilled.
10. THAT to the best of our knowledge, the issues we have raised are not pending before any court of law or constitutional or legal body.

HEREFORE, your humble petitioner prays that Parliament:

1. Debates and adopts the TJRC report within a reasonable time and summons the Attorney-General to present the proposed implementation framework as outlined in the TJRC Act. This should include a mechanism for commemorating and honoring those who sacrificed in liberation struggles from the colonial era to the present.
2. Summons the Attorney-General to clarify the status of the reparations fund proposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta during his 2015 State of the Nation address.
3. Summons the Attorney-General to explain the specific measures being taken to investigate and hold accountable perpetrators of the gross human rights violations witnessed during the Gen-Z protests.
4. Summons the Attorney-General to outline the measures the government is taking to uphold the constitution and the rule of law as the foundation for promoting a culture of human rights and guaranteeing non-repetition of impunity.
5. Summons the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to explain the Kenyan government’s engagement with the British government in securing credible information to locate Dedan Kimathi’s grave and remains and resolve other colonial injustices.
6. Summons the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to provide details on the government’s engagement with the British government in seeking a formal apology—beyond mere statements of regret—for the atrocities committed during the colonial period, as recommended in the TJRC report.
7. Summons the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to explain the steps being taken to ensure the British government establishes a reparations fund for the victims and survivors of colonial-era atrocities.

Presented by:

Name of the petitioner: Davis Malombe

Position: Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)

Full address: P.O. Box 41079-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

On behalf of:

1. Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ)
2. Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
3. National Victims and Survivors Network (NVSN)

CC:

Hon. Moses Masika Wetangula,

Speaker of the National Assembly,

P.O. Box 41842-00100

Nairobi, Kenya

Dr. Raymond Nyeris,

Vice-chairperson, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)

P.O Box 74359-00200,

Nairobi, Kenya

Faith Odhiambo,

President of the Law Society of Kenya

Lavington, opposite Valley Arcade, Gitanga Road

P.O Box 72219-00200

Nairobi, Kenya

Editor's note: Read the petition.

The court said it will issue a typed judgment after two weeks.

The court has declared that the national and county governments' ongoing failure to allocate 30 percent of their budgets for development is unlawful.

This decision followed a petition filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in 2024.

Judges Teresia Matheka, Rayola Olei, and Robert Limo instructed 20 county governments, along with the National Treasury—also named in the lawsuit—to ensure that 30 percent of their budgets are dedicated to development.

The court has given the counties and the National Treasury three months to report on compliance with this order.

According to a report from the Controller of Budget, the national government allocated only 17 percent of its revised gross budget to development expenditures during the first six months of the 2023-24 financial year.

Most counties that KHRC sued spent less than 10 percent of their budgets on development. These counties included Kisii, Nairobi, Machakos, West Pokot, Nyandarua, Lamu, Nyeri, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Meru, Kericho, Baringo, and Isiolo. The lawsuit also included Kajiado, Narok, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, and Marsabit.

In comparison, in the 2022-23 financial year, 16 counties did not meet the requirement of allocating 30 percent for development expenditures. Furthermore, eight counties failed to meet the same threshold from the 2018-19 to 2021-22 fiscal years.

KHRC told the court that failing to allocate the required 30 percent undermines development and violates Kenyans' social, economic, and cultural rights.

The last seven months have tested Kenya’s democracy and rule of law and plunged it into an abyss so deep that it may take the country years to recover.

William Ruto’s administration looks more isolated with each passing day as his regime continues with a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy advocates.

Ruto and politicians allied to him have been making statements justifying the abductions of government critics in operations that may have resulted in extrajudicial killings.

These abductions escalated in 2024, a year that saw parliament breached on June 25 by youth protesting oppressive laws, when the pressure for increased accountability surged.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and other partners operated a joint situation room to monitor police abuses during the same period, marked by a wave of Gen-Z protests. KNCHR reports that 82 youths have been abducted since June, with 29 still missing.

Media outlets today confirmed the release of five of the six youths abducted in December—Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Rony Kiplangat, and Kibet Bull—for sharing satirical images of William Ruto or linked to those who issued the photos. However, the whereabouts of blogger Steve Mbisi remain unknown.

Conflicting and sycophantic comments and statements by state officers, including implicit endorsement of abductions as a legitimate response to alleged violation of the law, point to the reasonable likelihood that the rampant abductions are state-sponsored. State security agents have publicly denied involvement, while Ruto has acknowledged their participation, saying his administration will "stop the abductions." In his New Year’s message, Ruto conceded: “It cannot be denied that there have been instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions by members of the security services.”

What they said

Kimani Ichung’wa, the majority leader in the National Assembly, supported false claims by COTU’s Francis Atwoli, that abductees were faking their abductions for financial gain. In what appeared to be an attempt to divert attention, Ichung’wa made startling claims about abductions and killings during president Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, accusing a governor of orchestrating a scheme that led to dozens of missing persons’ bodies dumped in River Yala. Ichung’wa and Atwoli spoke in Bungoma on January 3 during the requiem mass of the mother of National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula.

During the same service, Amason Kingi, the senate speaker, said that the government would resort to brutal tactics to firmly deal with youthful critics, blaming their behavior on a “lack of parental guidance.” He warned parents not to wail over their children when the government “takes action.”

Sirisia MP John Waluke sensationally claimed abductions were “fabricated stories to tarnish the reputation” of Ruto’s administration despite overwhelming evidence that security forces were involved. He spoke in Bungoma on January 3.

Tiaty MP William Kamket dismissed those calling for Ruto's resignation through online satire as “lazy bones in bed” and warned that his side could extend Ruto's term without facing any consequences. He made these remarks during the Kerio Valley interdenominational prayers at Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet, on January 5.

At the same event, Oscar Sudi, the Kapsaret MP, openly supported the abduction of those sharing Ruto’s AI-generated satirical images. He said that, if he were the Interior CS, it would only take him three days to deal with those creating and sharing Ruto’s silhouette images through authoritarian actions.

These threats followed a denial from Kipchumba Murkomen, the Interior CS, that no abductions and extrajudicial killings were happening under Ruto’s watch. Murkomen’s statement trivializes the executions of young people who exercise their right to freedom of expression in agitation against a regime that is miserably failing them. He spoke in Bungoma on December 27.

These politicians seemed to have taken a cue from deputy president Kindiki Kithure, who, in September of last year, justified the use of excessive force by police against unarmed protesters, leading to deaths and abductions. Kithure made these remarks during his appearance before the National Assembly's security and administration committee.

Laws violated

The comments these politicians made violated our constitution. State officers are bound by the national values and principles of governance, which include human rights, the rule of law and democracy as espoused in Article 10 of the constitution. Article 9 declares that the principles in article 10 apply to all state officers when making, interpreting and applying laws and policies. Further, article 19 expects governance and leadership that is human rights-based for which the cited state officers have abrogated. 

These state officers have terribly failed the constitutional expectations of leadership and integrity under chapter six of our constitution. Additionally, article 73 states that authority entrusted to a state officer, such as these politicians, is a public trust. It must be exercised in a manner consistent with the constitution’s purposes and objectives, demonstrating respect for the people, upholding the nation’s honor and the dignity of the office, and promoting public confidence in its integrity.

The abductions, which the human rights movement fights to stop, have severely undermined fundamental rights, including the right to life, human dignity, freedom and security of the person, and freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion. They have also violated freedoms of expression, assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petition, as well as the rights to fair administrative action, access to justice, and protections for arrested individuals.

Abductions can never be justifiable

In his New Year’s message, Ruto said that “every freedom has its limits and that public safety and order must always supersede the desire for unchecked liberty.”  KHRC reminds him that freedom of opinion and expression, which his regime and its supporters are hell-bent on curtailing, is the cornerstone of every free and democratic society.

Any limitation on freedom of expression and opinion must be done lawfully. Article 24 states that "a right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights shall not be limited except by law, and then only to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom."

The arbitrary arrests, abductions, forced disappearances, torture, threats to life and killings that we have witnessed in the recent past can never be justifiable as a response to alleged breaches of the law in the open and democratic society that Kenya is.

Resignation

The KHRC warns the leaders mentioned in this statement and others that we are meticulously documenting all their public utterances that support the ongoing breakdown of the rule of law in Kenya, as exemplified by these abductions. At the right time, we are confident that they will all be held accountable.

Further, the KHRC demands the immediate resignation of Ichung’wa, Kingi, Kamket, Sudi, Murkomen, Waluke, and Kindiki from their state offices over their utterances supporting abductions. We also demand the resignation of inspector-general of police, Douglas Kanja, as abductions occurred under his watch.

Additionally, the KHRC calls for an impartial and thorough investigation into their statements and potential involvement in the abductions and extrajudicial killings of state critics. Those found culpable must face prosecution and be permanently barred from holding state or public office.

The board and secretariat of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) are deeply devastated by the untimely passing of comrade Roseline Doreen Adhiambo Odede.

Until her demise on January 3, 2024, comrade Odede was the chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), a constitutional commission.

We extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity to her family, friends, and colleagues at KNCHR during this time of great loss.

Her passing comes at a critical moment when Kenya continues to face gross human rights violations and abuses.

Commissioner Odede provided prolific political leadership in addressing these challenges, working tirelessly in partnership with the human rights movement. Her loss is a significant blow to the nation.

In her acceptance speech during her swearing-in as the KNCHR's chairperson at the Supreme Court on March 3, 2022, Commissioner Odede declared: “Under my leadership, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights will remain key in reaffirming the commitment of our country towards protecting the sovereignty of the people of Kenya, securing the observance of democratic values and principles by all State organs, and promoting constitutionalism.”

True to her word, Commissioner Odede showed reliable commitment and exceptional leadership throughout her tenure. Under her watch, KNCHR and KHRC, key state and civic actors within the justice and human rights movement, respectively, deepened their partnership and amplified their collective actions in addressing emerging societal injustices.

As we mourn and celebrate her life, we urge all Kenyans to remain resolute in defending and upholding human rights. We also remind the Ruto regime of its constitutional obligations to protect citizens. The regime must immediately cease abductions and other atrocities that Commissioner Odede and many of us have fought against.

Comrade and Commissioner Odede, you fought a good fight in the face of unprecedented political adversities. May your legacy inspire us to continue our joint struggle for a human rights state and society.

Rest in power.

Davinder Lamba, KHRC board chairperson

Davis Malombe, KHRC executive director

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) is a premier and flagship non-governmental organization (NGO) in Africa with a mandate of enhancing human rights-centered governance at all levels. Our vision is a society of free people, and our mission is to root human dignity, freedoms, and social justice in Kenya and beyond.

On December 19, 2024, William Ruto made further changes to his cabinet for the third time in two years since assuming office in September 2022.

In recent changes, Ruto nominated former governors William Kabogo, Lee Kinyanjui, Nderitu Muriithi and former cabinet secretary Mutagi Kagwe to different government positions.

Others nominated to various posts included Margaret Nyambura, Andrew Karanja, and former Muranga Senator Kembi Gitura.

With the new CS nominations, the Mt. Kenya region is poised to dominate the cabinet.

If the national assembly approves Kabogo, Kinyanjui and Kagwe, they will join Justin Muturi, Rebecca Miano, Alice Wahome, and Eric Muriithi in the cabinet.

Seven CSs out of 20 will be from the Mt. Kenya region, constituting 35 per cent of the cabinet.

When the president, deputy president and attorney-general are included, eight cabinet members will be from the Mt. Kenya region, constituting 34.7 per cent of the cabinet.

Only five of the 20 CSs are women, representing 25 per cent. There are only six women in the entire cabinet of 23 individuals.

Ruto promotes ethnic exclusivity and gender discrimination

Article 1 of the constitution affirms that all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and is exercised on their behalf per their will.

Any attempt by Ruto to unilaterally select cabinet members without reflecting the diversity, equity, and inclusivity mandated by the constitution undermines the people’s sovereignty and the principles of democracy. Such actions contravene the public's trust and obligation to exercise power in their interest.

Article 10 of the constitution identifies the key national values and principles of governance, including patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, and democracy. It also emphasizes the participation of the people, human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination, and protection of the marginalized.

Further, article 27 (8) provides that the state shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.

Still, article 130 (2) says the composition of the national executive shall reflect the regional and ethnic diversity of the people of Kenya.

With the new cabinet nominations, Ruto has grossly violated the constitution, especially provisions of articles 10, 27 and 130, by openly and blatantly promoting regional ethnic exclusivity and gender discrimination.

Ruto is desperate

In a desperate attempt for political survival, Ruto has resorted to advancing ethnicity and patriarchy to try and gain some form of legitimacy for a regime that has completely lost public trust.

Concerned about losing support in the Mt. Kenya region following the impeachment of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto has taken unconstitutional steps to consolidate his position.

He has undermined Kenya’s diversity and his role as a unifying national figure by appointing five allies of former president Uhuru Kenyatta from the central region to key cabinet positions and influential parastatals.

It is hypocritical for Ruto to instigate the impeachment of Gachagua for merely preaching ethnic chauvinism and shareholding narratives. At the same time, he shamelessly practices worse ethnic, regional and gender discrimination for political expediency and survival.

It is concerning that this is not the first time that Ruto has deliberately failed to adhere to the set constitutional standards when making appointments in the public service.

Ruto has normalized disregard for the rule of law, evident in all his previous cabinet appointments, including the last in July 2024, which we have challenged in court, following highly successful pro-governance protests by young Kenyans.

Ruto’s unaccountability and mismanagement of public affairs must be firmly rejected. Kenyans should also reject his self-serving, discriminatory, and exclusive governance model, falsely presented as a “broad-based” and “all-inclusive” government that includes allies of Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta. In reality, it is a fully-fledged elitist rulership that contradicts his "hustlers vs dynasties" narrative during the campaign.

The constitutional commissions and independent bodies charged with ensuring ethnic and gender diversity in the governance of public affairs must be called out for their outright failure to carry out their mandates of holding the executive to account for constitutional breaches.

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) have failed in their mandates. They must forthrightly implement their constitutional duties, for which Kenyan taxpayers pay them.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) condemns the ongoing unlawful and arbitrary demolitions and evictions in Nyama Villa, Kayole, which have left hundreds of families homeless and exposed to untold suffering.

Following a fact-finding mission conducted on December 18, 2024, KHRC has established that these demolitions and evictions, which began on December 16, 2024, are being carried out in blatant defiance of a court order issued on December 16, 2024, barring any demolition and evictions until legal proceedings are concluded.

A private entity is orchestrating this unlawful operation, with the active complicity of state actors, including police officers and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) personnel.

Armed goons, equipped with batons, stones, and other weapons, alongside a heavily armed police contingent, have been deployed to intimidate residents and prevent them from salvaging their belongings.

Five bulldozers are currently operating, leveling homes and properties and leaving families destitute.

Nairobi County Attorney Christine Ireri confirmed the land in question as public in a letter dated October 17, 2024, to Deputy County Commissioner Eric Mulevu.

As Ireri noted in her letter, public land vests in and is held by a county government in trust for its residents and is administered on their behalf by the National Land Commission (NLC).

Despite lacking any valid legal title, the private entity has proceeded with these demolitions and evictions, exploiting vulnerable residents.

We have established that coercive agreements have been forced upon some property owners, demanding up to Sh3 million payments to spare their homes from destruction.

The demolitions and evictions are being executed with total disregard for Kenya's Constitution and treaties that the country has ratified.

 The United Nations Guidelines on Evictions, together with Section 152E of the Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 2016, stipulates evictions cannot be conducted subject to the issuance of a three-month notice.

The notice must be in writing, in a national and official language, and be published in at least two daily newspapers of nationwide circulation. Eviction and demolition cannot happen if this notice is not displayed in less than five strategic locations within the occupied land.

Nationally, the right to shelter and housing, as enshrined in Article 43 of the Constitution, has been grossly infringed.

Further, Section 152G (1) of the Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 2017, stipulates the following mandatory procedures with which every eviction must comply:

1. Be preceded by properly identifying those taking part in the eviction or demolition.
2. Be preceded by presenting the formal authorizations for the action.
3. Where groups of people are involved, government officials or their representatives to be present during an eviction.
4. Be carried out in a manner that respects the dignity, right to life, and security of those affected.
5. Include special measures to ensure effective protection for groups and people who are vulnerable, such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
6. Include special measures to ensure no arbitrary deprivation of property or possessions due to the eviction.
7. Include mechanisms to protect property and possessions left behind involuntarily from destruction.
8. Respect the principles of necessity and proportionality during the use of force.
9. Give the affected persons the first priority to salvage their property.

However, what we have witnessed is a contradiction to these regulations. 

These violations are also compounded by theft, looting of personal belongings, and the use of excessive force against residents. The involvement of state resources to facilitate this operation shows a broader culture of impunity.

KHRC demands that:

1. The government must immediately halt all demolitions in Nyama Villa and uphold the court order issued on December 16, 2024.
2. The Inspector General of Police, Nairobi County Police Commander, Sub-County Commander in Embakasi, and the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Kayole Police Station must be held accountable for facilitating these illegal actions.
3. The government must secure the status of this land as public property.
4. All displaced families must receive immediate restitution and compensation. A thorough and transparent investigation must also be conducted into the involvement of state and private actors in these unlawful demolitions.
5. The government must urgently implement systemic reforms to protect housing rights, including fully enacting the Evictions and Resettlement Procedures Bill.

Should authorities fail to act, KHRC will take immediate legal action against the violators.

Police in Nairobi violently disrupted a march advocating for an end to femicide, an incident that occurred on International Human Rights Day—a day commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which asserts the inalienable rights of all people.

During the disruption, several protesters were subjected to unwarranted force, injured, and others arrested, with police deploying plainclothed officers, live ammunition, and teargas despite a court order prohibiting such actions.

This brazen disregard for the law contrasts with William Ruto's recent pledge of Sh100 million to combat femicide. Ironically, his regime has failed to protect a fundamental, costless mechanism for advancing women's rights—peaceful protest.

This regime’s report shows 97 women were killed in femicides between August and October 2024. The numbers could be higher.

This latest incident adds to countless reasons for the Ruto regime’s inability to uphold human rights and democratic freedoms. KHRC demands the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested protesters and legal action against the officers responsible for these violations.

Uganda Law Council bars Karua

Separately, KHRC is alarmed by the Uganda Law Council’s decision to deny Martha Karua a special practicing certificate to represent Kizza Besigye. Besigye was abducted in Kenya and subsequently arraigned in Uganda over trumped-up charges.

KHRC has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Besigye’s right to a fair trial and to advocate for the rule of law in Uganda and Kenya. The Uganda Law Council’s decision to bar Karua from representing her client is baseless and regressive, undermining Besigye’s right to legal representation by a lawyer of his choice.

KHRC supports the Law Society of Kenya’s (LSK) recent statement expressing similar concerns and demands that the Uganda Law Council review its decision immediately. Justice and fairness must prevail in upholding Besigye’s rights and the broader principles of the rule of law.

Editor's note: Read the report here.

There are critical disparities in media reporting on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) cases in Kenya, a new report shows.

“Who shapes the narrative?” reveals the disproportionate focus on urban centres like Nairobi and Mombasa compared to underrepresented regions such as Garissa and Trans-Nzoia.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) launched the report today after months of monitoring how the media has covered SRHR.

The analysis, based on 524 cases across print, online, radio, and television outlets, used data from Globetrack, over nine months, from October 2023 to June 2024. It highlighted media trends, gaps, and the influence of societal actors in shaping SRHR narratives.

Uneven coverage

Uneven coverage hampered efforts to create equitable awareness and access to SRHR services across Kenya, the report further reveals.

“Publishing this report is our commitment to follow up on human rights achievements and shortfalls. Without the media, it is nearly impossible to push for accountability,” said Annet Nerima, KHRC’s program manager.

According to the report, religious leaders, political figures, and human rights organizations significantly shape public opinion and SRHR policies.

Additionally, print media leads coverage by 49 per cent, while online platforms, radio, and television lag despite being most Kenyans' primary sources of information.

The study shows that media narratives often use frames like personal storytelling, human rights advocacy, and morality-based perspectives to influence public perception and policy.

The report follows another campaign KHRC led, Red Card, which spotlighted 20 Kenyan governors whose counties had the highest teenage pregnancies, violating a host of rights for our girls. Red Card urged the government to take decisive actions to mitigate unintended teenage pregnancies.

With 16 Days of Activism on—and currently on its fifth day—the report provides an opportunity for reflection among journalists, SRHR-focused organizations, and policymakers about the rights violations highlighted in this report.

“It is not just the media that shapes the SRHR narratives, but also the sources. Let’s allow the journalists to interact with the primary sources to have an authentic story that can be used for advocacy to realise human rights on SRHR”, said Claret Adhiambo, sub-editor at The Star newspaper.

The report urges journalists to focus on underreported areas and issues like gender-based violence and comprehensive sexuality education.

Religious leaders, policymakers, and human rights groups should collaborate to amplify accurate SRHR narratives and address cultural and religious barriers.

Ministries must prioritize implementing rights-based SRHR policies and bolster public education to fight stigma and misinformation.

“Everyone has a part to play in shaping the narrative. Don’t sit back. Speak up!” Margaret Nyambura, KELIN’s health lawyer, said.