(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The United States has criticised Kenya for abuses, killings, and breaches of law, stating that respect for human rights declined sharply during the Gen Z protests in June and July 2024.
A US report covering this period identified security officers as responsible for arbitrary killings, abuse, unlawful arrests, and the detention of demonstrators campaigning for their rights.
While the Kenyan government took some measures to identify and punish lawbreakers, the report noted widespread neglect and legal violations across all levels of government.
The report, titled Human Rights Violations 2024, specifically condemned the government for failing to ensure that police officers who broke the law during the Gen Z protests faced serious legal consequences.
“Police at the time refused to undergo investigations and detained some activists who were complaining about abuses,” the report stated.
“Instead of punishing the officers involved, they were simply transferred, using clever tactics to ensure that others would not be held accountable for their actions,” the report added.
Regarding arbitrary killings, the report documented multiple incidents where security officials killed civilians during demonstrations opposing tax increases in the 2024 Finance Bill.
The report highlights a pattern of systemic failure in accountability, noting that measures taken by authorities were insufficient to prevent abuses or to safeguard protester rights.