End killings, abductions, rights groups tell Ruto

Several local and international organisations have called out the government over the killings of protesters during last week’s countrywide demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill.

The groups, including the Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International, Kenya Union of Journalists, Kenya Medical Association and the Bloggers Association of Kenya, called for urgent action to stop the killings and wave of kidnappings of protesters.

“Among the fatalities is a 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of violence,” the groups said in a statement.

“Additionally, there have been 627 arrests and 32 abductions, with many detainees being denied access to their families, legal representation and medical assistance.”

Toll on staff

They lamented the unrest of the past two weeks, saying it had taken a toll on their staff, particularly those in medical and emergency services, while lawyers and journalists have also been targeted, with incidents of camera confiscation, arrests and intimidation by police officers.

Acknowledging President William Ruto’s calls for a dialogue to address policy issues raised by young Kenyans’ protest movement, the organisations urged the government to urgently address the protesters’ concerns.

“The Youth for Kenya have clearly spoken on the urgent need for the state to arrest public theft and a bloated Cabinet, act on those who fired upon unarmed protesters, release those arbitrarily arrested and end extrajudicial killings,” the statement noted.

The groups emphasised the need for decisive Executive action instead of lengthy national conversations, arguing that this is essential for restoring public confidence and governance institutions.