🇰🇪 Kenya’s Democratic Image Under Threat Amid Rising Repression
Kenya, long seen as a shining example of democracy in East Africa, is now grappling with a deepening political crisis. Recent state crackdowns on protests and growing concerns over civil liberties are tarnishing the nation’s once-admired democratic standing—drawing comparisons with more authoritarian neighbours like Uganda and Tanzania.
What started as peaceful nationwide demonstrations against President William Ruto’s government quickly turned deadly. At least 10 people were killed as protesters, many of them young, took to the streets to mark the anniversary of last year’s anti-tax protests. Their chants for accountability were met with tear gas, barricades, and live ammunition.
“Rogue Regime,” screamed the front page of Kenya’s widely respected Standard newspaper, condemning the state's heavy-handed response. Instead of empathy, it wrote, demonstrators were “met with razor wire, armoured trucks and the cold grip of repression.”
⚠️ Deadly Force vs. Democratic Rights
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen praised law enforcement, claiming the police showed “remarkable restraint” while foiling what he labelled an “attempted coup.” He accused the demonstrators of violence, looting, and attacking police stations.
But civil society groups pushed back. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) slammed the response as “unnecessary aggression and brute force,” warning that such tactics are incompatible with any functioning democracy.
The backlash intensified after the suspicious death of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died from assault injuries sustained in police custody. His alleged crime? Defaming a senior police officer. The tragedy sparked a protest in Nairobi where another civilian—a street vendor—was critically injured after being shot at close range.
“These acts have no place in a sane democratic society,” the LSK stated firmly.
🌍 East Africa’s Democratic Domino Effect
Kenya’s apparent backsliding has alarmed pro-democracy advocates across East Africa.
In Tanzania, political opposition figures long admired Kenya’s open civic space. Now, they fear it may be disappearing. Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who survived a brutal 2017 assassination attempt, remains imprisoned under treason charges for leading calls for electoral reform under the slogan “No reform; no elections.”
His Chadema party has been barred from contesting October’s elections after refusing to sign an electoral code they say strips them of their rights. If convicted, Lissu could face the death penalty.
In Uganda, opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been held in detention since November. The government wants him tried in a military court, also for treason. Observers point out that President Yoweri Museveni, in power for nearly 40 years, is grooming his son and army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba to take over—tightening his grip ahead of the 2026 elections.
🔍 Why It Matters
Kenya’s laws remain among the most progressive in the region when it comes to freedom of expression and the right to protest. But the recent events—deadly police crackdowns, arrests of dissenting voices, and efforts to suppress media coverage—signal a dangerous shift.
Unless reversed, Kenya risks becoming yet another cautionary tale in a region where democracy appears to be increasingly under siege.