Kenya Downgraded in Global Human Rights Report Over Police Brutality

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Kenya has been ranked among 50 sub-Saharan African countries that violated human rights in the past year, according to the People Power Under Attack 2024 report by global civil society organization CIVICUS. The report, which assesses freedoms of association and governments' commitment to human rights, downgraded Kenya’s status from “obstructed” to “repressed” following incidents of police brutality during the Gen Z protests in mid-2024.

The protests, sparked by grievances over governance and economic challenges, resulted in the deaths of at least 60 unarmed demonstrators, while over 1,000 individuals were arrested. The report also highlighted continued abductions of protestors and online activists, creating a chilling effect on civil liberties.

“Security forces have used excessive violence to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, abduct protestors, and prosecute human rights defenders, journalists, and activists,” the report noted.

Kenya now joins Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso, which were also downgraded due to the suppression of fundamental freedoms. CIVICUS ranks countries in five categories—open, narrowed, obstructed, repressed, and closed—based on their level of respect for civil liberties.

The report contrasted Kenya's performance with that of countries such as Botswana and Liberia, which improved their rankings by upholding political expression and defending human rights.

The Kenyan government has faced mounting criticism from stakeholders, including the United States and human rights organizations, calling for accountability for extrajudicial killings and abductions linked to law enforcement during the protests.

President William Ruto, however, defended the police, denying allegations of excessive force. "Criminals have caused immense harm, and I must protect everybody, especially innocent people," Ruto said during a media interview in June 2024. He insisted that his administration was committed to maintaining order and security.

Despite these assurances, calls for justice persist, with activists and international observers urging Kenyan authorities to hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable.

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