Senior Kenyan government officials have responded to the resumption of protests by an opposition coalition with threats and hostile rhetoric, heightening political tension, Human Rights Watch said today. Kenya’s political leaders should stop the labelling of protesters as terrorists and respect the human rights to assembly and peaceful protest.
Kenya’s leading opposition coalition, Azimio, resumed street protests on July 7, 2023, after it suspended earlier protests in May allegedly to pave way for talks with the government.
The opposition coalition had previously called for antigovernment protests between March and May to pressure the government to address the rising cost of living and grievances relating to the August 2022 presidential election. On July 14, the opposition coalition called for three day continuous protests starting July 19.
“Kenyan authorities are obligated under Kenyan and international human rights law to protect citizens’ right to freely assemble and to peacefully protest.
“Police should adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality in response to any violence during the demonstrations,” said Otsieno Namwaya, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kindiki Kithure, warned on July 14 that there was no right to “riot and destroy.”