Kenya confronts deadly protests as security forces face scrutiny over use of force
Human Rights Watch has drawn urgent attention to the deaths of at least two dozen protesters in Kenya, alleging that security forces fired directly into crowds during demonstrations across multiple cities and towns. The protests challenged the government’s economic reform package, which included increases in the cost of essential goods.
According to the group, firing on unafflicted crowds without justification remains a stark violation under both Kenyan and international law, a judgment voiced by Otsieno Namwaya, the associate director for Africa at Human Rights Watch. The organization called on Kenyan authorities to act immediately to investigate what it described as excessive force by police, noting the killings of numerous demonstrators who opposed the government’s proposed reforms.
HRW emphasized that authorities have a duty to ensure that security personnel deployed at protests protect the right to peaceful assembly. Namwaya stressed that impunity for police violence cannot be tolerated any longer, urging transparent investigations and accountability for those implicated.
The statements followed a decision by Kenya’s Supreme Court to approve the government’s plan to deploy the military to bolster police efforts in containing widespread protests. The move was intended to reinforce policing capabilities amid mounting unrest in various localities nationwide.
On the same day, security forces reportedly used tear gas against demonstrators, primarily younger people aged between 18 and 35, according to HRW. The protests resumed in Nairobi even as President William Ruto described the dissenters as traitors and organized criminals and had previously rejected the reform package that had sparked the controversy.
Media coverage noted that police opened fire on protesters while Parliament was in session, resulting in a reported death toll of dozens and hundreds of injuries. HRW documented numerous cases of trauma from projectiles and blunt force, with several eyewitnesses reporting disappearances of relatives amid the turmoil.
Human Rights Watch urged international partners to maintain active monitoring of the situation and to press Kenyan authorities for rapid, credible, and transparent investigations into police abuses. The organization pointed to actions already undertaken by Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights and invited bodies such as the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and United Nations special rapporteurs to request access to Kenya for on-site observations.
The unfolding crisis has drawn attention from regional and international observers, who see the events as a litmus test for Kenya’s commitment to upholding civil liberties during a period of economic strain. Critics argue that the reform plan is essential for fiscal stability, while supporters contend that it places a heavy burden on ordinary citizens. The emerging discourse suggests a delicate balance between security considerations and the right to protest, with broader implications for governance and human rights in the region.
As the situation evolves, analysts emphasize the need for independent investigations, prompt accountability for excessive force, and a clear path toward safeguarding democratic rights even amid economic reform pressures. The attention of international human rights actors underscores the global interest in Kenya’s response to protests, and their calls for transparency reflect a broader demand for human rights protections in times of political and economic change.