Amnesty International reports crackdown on Kenyan protesters

Amnesty International has released a report titled “Human Rights Under Siege: Unpacking Authoritarian Practices in an Era of Economic Pressure amid Youth-Led Protests in Kenya,” documenting repressive tactics used by Kenyan authorities between 2023 and 2025.

The report alleges that the government has employed arbitrary arrests, abductions, incommunicado detentions, surveillance, and media repression to suppress protests. These demonstrations were driven by economic hardships, including rising food and transport costs, tax hikes, high public debt, corruption, and increasing poverty and inequality.

George Morara, Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director, stated that the findings depict a “stark picture of the Kenyan government’s repressive response to real grievances affecting the day-to-day lives of ordinary people.” The organization called for authorities to address the underlying economic issues and ensure accountability for human rights violations.