It begins with a knock at the door, often in the dead of night. No arrest warrant. No explanation. Just plainclothes men and a car with no number plates.
In recent months, a troubling pattern has returned to Kenya’s political landscape. Human rights groups and opposition leaders are sounding the alarm, claiming the state is reviving tactics once used during the darkest years of Daniel arap Moi’s rule. Under President William Ruto, they say, critics are disappearing. Dissent is being silenced. And fear is taking root.
“We’re seeing the same script,” said George Kegoro, a long-time human rights advocate. “Disappearances, unlawful detentions, threats to the media it feels like we’ve gone back in time.”
The memories of Moi’s 24-year rule marked by torture chambers at Nyayo House, secret police, and a climate of terror are still raw. Kenya emerged from that era with a new constitution and a promise never to return.
But recent events suggest otherwise.
Crackdowns and Disappearances
In April, political activist Kelvin Kamunya vanished for five days after criticising the government online. He later said he was held in a dark cell, blindfolded, and beaten. Police denied any involvement.
“They told me to stop talking, or my family would bury me,” Kamunya told a local radio station after his release.
Another case, reported by Amnesty International, involved the abduction of a student leader from Nairobi University who was later found unconscious in a forest. The rights group called it “a chilling reminder of Kenya’s authoritarian past.”
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki now deputy president dismissed the claims as “baseless and politically motivated.”
“We do not operate a police state,” he told reporters. “Any cases of abuse must be investigated through proper channels.”
Yet such investigations rarely lead anywhere.
A Shift in Ruto’s Approach
President Ruto, who rose to power in 2022 on promises of economic revival and democratic reform, now faces growing accusations of backsliding.
His administration has been accused of targeting judges, squeezing media houses, and ordering arrests of vocal opponents. Critics say the language has shifted from dialogue to threats.
“He came in as a reformer,” said political analyst Dr. Rose Wambui. “But now he’s surrounded by old-guard loyalists who thrived under Moi. The signs are worrying.”
At a recent press conference, Ruto pushed back: “We are building a transparent government that respects the rule of law. But free speech cannot be a shield for incitement.”
Echoes of the Past
Many Kenyans see parallels with the 1980s, when even a whisper against Moi’s rule could mean a trip to Nyayo House’s basement cells. Torture survivors from that era have warned that history is creeping back.
“It started with just one arrest,” recalled John Githongo, a former anti-corruption chief. “Then it became normal. We must not let that happen again.”
Human rights organisations are demanding an independent commission to investigate recent abductions and alleged abuses. Parliament, however, remains sharply divided.
While opposition leader Raila Odinga accuses Ruto of “using the state as a weapon,” some MPs within the ruling coalition have defended tough measures as necessary to maintain order.
Looking Ahead
The courts have remained a fragile bulwark. Several judges have ruled against illegal detentions in recent months, but they now face growing pressure, including calls for their removal.
Civil society leaders are urging Kenyans to stay vigilant.
“The constitution is only as strong as the people willing to defend it,” said Maina Kiai, a prominent human rights lawyer. “We defeated one dictatorship before. We can do it again, if we act now.”
As fear spreads, so too does resistance. Activists are planning nationwide protests. Students, clergy, and journalists have begun to speak out.
But the question remains: Will the world watch Kenya slide back or stand with those trying to pull it forward?
