The United States has accused Kenya’s government of sliding backwards on human rights, warning of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, and intimidation of journalists.
In its latest Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the US State Department says President William Ruto’s administration committed “numerous abuses” during last year’s youth-led “Gen Z” protests. The demonstrations, which began in June 2024 over proposed tax hikes, grew into a broader anti-government movement after the Finance Bill was withdrawn.
“Kenya experienced a deterioration in the human rights situation during the year,” the report says. “Authorities reportedly committed unlawful killings, physical violence, and arbitrary arrests.”
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights recorded 60 deaths linked to the protests. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) put the toll at 50, with 199 injuries, blaming excessive force by police.
Rights groups say security officers carried out abductions and detentions despite a High Court order banning the use of masks and civilian clothes during protest operations. KNCHR reported 82 cases of enforced disappearances since June last year, with 29 people still missing.
Those released told investigators they had been warned not to post protest-related content online. The report also accuses police and prison officials of torture, including beatings, painful restraints, and electric shocks.
“Impunity was a serious problem across security agencies,” the State Department says, noting that no officers had been held to account for abuses during the protests.
The report further alleges Kenyan security agencies were involved in “transnational repression,” including the July 2024 arrest of Ugandan opposition members in Kisumu and their forced return to Uganda. In November, veteran Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi and driven to Kampala. Ugandan authorities called it a joint operation; Kenya denied involvement.
Journalists also came under pressure. The Media Council of Kenya reported 24 cases of violence and harassment against reporters during the protests, including live on-air attacks. Many media outlets, it says, resorted to self-censorship after receiving threats.
Other concerns include weak labour protections, unsafe working conditions, child marriage, and the continued practice of female genital mutilation in some communities.
The Kenyan government has not yet issued a detailed response to the US report. Officials have previously defended the police, saying they acted to protect life and property during what they described as violent and unlawful demonstrations.
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