A powerful joint statement from 12 foreign missions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark, has put pressure on the Kenyan government just days before the planned June 25 protests.
These protests are meant to honour the lives lost during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. In their statement released on Tuesday, the diplomats openly supported the right of Kenyans to peacefully protest and warned against the growing trend of using violence, intimidation, and unlawful tactics to suppress public gatherings.
The envoys expressed concern over what they described as worrying patterns in the recent handling of demonstrations. They referred to the June 17 protests in Nairobi where several armed men, believed to be hired goons, were caught on camera assaulting peaceful demonstrators in broad daylight in the Central Business District.
According to the diplomats, this kind of behavior not only violates the rights of citizens but also damages Kenya’s reputation as a democratic nation. They said the use of hired thugs to create fear and chaos during peaceful protests is unacceptable and deeply troubling.
They also raised alarm over the presence of masked police officers and plainclothes officers operating from unmarked vehicles. This, they reminded, had already been ruled unlawful by the High Court. The statement stressed that such practices not only go against the law but also erode public trust in the police and government institutions.
They called on the Kenyan authorities to fully comply with the court ruling and ensure that officers are clearly identified and operate within the law. The diplomats made it clear that trust in institutions can only be built through transparency, respect for human rights, and lawful conduct during public demonstrations.
The statement also called for restraint from both protesters and the authorities. While affirming their support for peaceful protest as a critical part of any healthy democracy, the foreign missions urged all sides to avoid violence. They encouraged organisers to remain peaceful and authorities to ensure that crowd control measures respect the dignity and rights of demonstrators.
They reminded the government that the responsibility to protect peaceful protestors lies with the state, not with those who seek to sabotage it through force or fear.In their message, the envoys demanded independent and transparent investigations into previous incidents of police brutality and violence against protestors.
They insisted that justice must be served and that those responsible for injuries or deaths must be held accountable. Without accountability, they warned, the cycle of violence will continue and public confidence will decline further. The need for quick action, transparency, and justice for victims and their families was strongly emphasized.
The June 25 protests are expected to attract thousands of Kenyans who plan to mark the anniversary of last year’s deadly protests. With growing anger over economic hardships, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law, citizens from all walks of life are preparing to take to the streets.
The message from the foreign envoys now adds pressure on President Ruto’s administration to handle the protests responsibly and avoid a repeat of the violence that claimed lives in 2024. All eyes are now on the government as the date draws near.
