Human rights organizations in Kenya have issued a sharp rebuke of President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of authoritarianism, arbitrary arrests, and the systematic targeting of youth activists and critics, in what they describe as an assault on the country’s democratic foundations.
A coalition of 37 human rights organizations and 24 individual defenders on Sunday condemned the Kenyan government’s increasingly hardline approach to dissent, pointing to a disturbing pattern of arbitrary arrests, fabricated charges, and intimidation against protesters and civil society actors.
The rights groups say that young Kenyans who have dared to speak out against government policies are being falsely labeled as terrorists, money launderers, and arsonists. This crackdown, they argue, has created a climate of fear and repression across the country.
“As patriotic Kenyans, Pan-Africanists, and human rights defenders, we are deeply alarmed by the growing pattern of arbitrary arrests and trumped-up charges targeting innocent youth and anyone who dares to speak out in Kenya,” the statement reads.
“What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenya’s democracy.”
Citing Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, picketing, and protest the groups condemned the government’s response as unlawful and dangerous. “We are witnessing those who lawfully and peacefully invoke this right being falsely accused of terrorism, arson, and money laundering designed to intimidate and silence,” the statement added.
The condemnation comes just one day after the arrest of prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi. Mwangi had filed a landmark case at the East African Court of Justice, seeking redress over alleged enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence suffered at the hands of regional state security agencies two months ago.
Shortly after, Kenyan security personnel raided Mwangi’s home and arrested him—reportedly without a court order. His office, Mageuzi Hub, was also raided by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who cited terrorism allegations.
Mwangi’s detention follows the arrests of other prominent human rights defenders, including John Mulingwa Nzau, Mark Amiani, and Francis Mwangi leaders within the grassroots movement Kongamano La Mapinduzi. Rights watchdogs say these arrests appear politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to dismantle citizen movements challenging the state.
The situation on the ground is dire. According to legal teams and civil society monitors, dozens of minors and students have been arrested, including children as young as 14—some with gunshot wounds and visible signs of torture. Reports have emerged of youths detained while walking home from school or visiting detained friends, and held without access to legal representation.
In Naivasha alone, at least 20 youths remain in detention without legal aid, while across the country, over 150 young people are facing steep bail conditions ranging from KSh 30,000 to KSh 300,000 figures that rights defenders say are punitive and deliberately exclusionary.
Human rights groups are now calling for an immediate halt to arbitrary arrests, the unconditional release of unlawfully detained individuals, and independent investigations into allegations of torture and abuse.
“This is not just about a few activists,” the joint statement warns. “This is about the soul of our democracy. If peaceful protest is criminalized and dissent punished with terror charges, Kenya risks sliding into a state of authoritarianism.”
