A lobby group has accused President William Ruto of leading what they termed as an authoritarian regime.

 In a statement to newsrooms, the group, International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) called for an end to the ongoing abductions, as well as use of excessive force against protestors.

 “It is unfathomable that many civic groups, and individuals that include activists, civil society actors, the media, artists, and human rights defenders, operate in precarious conditions of fear, reprisals, attacks, and threats. This undermines the contribution of citizens to democratic practice and participation in democratic processes outside of spaces organized by the State,” said Executive Director ICPC Ndung’u Wainana.

Genuine contribution

 Waianina said that the suggestion that young people, particularly the Gen Zs, are being funded to speak up devalues their genuine contributions to Kenya’s development.

“ICPC vehemently rejects the authoritarian regime in the making. This Kenya government must recognize that constitutional democracy cannot be consolidated without an open and vibrant civic space that allows citizens to be at the centre of democratic processes and building of statehood,” he said.

He added that in recent months, CSOs have risen to initiate rapid response interventions to meet the pressing and overwhelming needs and concerns of Kenyans affected by the country’s crisis through providing legal aid for those arrested or abducted, medical assistance for those injured, and psychosocial support for individuals and families affected.

The organisation said they have continued to amplify advocacy on the human rights and governance concerns presented by Kenyans.

“We unreservedly support the effective participation of young people in governance and economic spaces and that young people themselves must actively pursue effective non-tokenistic participation that allows their voices to be heard and integrated into policymaking. The must resolve their demands,” read the statement from ICPC.

Wainaina noted that in the last three months, civil society and the media have engaged robustly in pushing for public finance management accountability, and protection of human rights including protests and an end to extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, abductions, and theft of public resources.