Amnesty International has reported that authorities in Kenya engaged in severe human rights violations during youth-led protests against the country’s declining economic conditions between 2023 and 2025. These protests, which emerged in response to increasing corruption, high taxes, public debt, and social inequality, were met with restrictive and violent measures by the government.
The report details numerous abuses committed by Kenyan authorities, including arbitrary arrests, abductions, and media repression. Among the demonstrators and journalists targeted, 36 individuals were reportedly arrested or abducted by security forces, often enduring harsh treatment while in detention. Abuses included beatings, torture, and interrogations conducted without legal representation, alongside allegations of unlawful surveillance of social media accounts and private residences.
Journalists faced significant risks while covering these events. Reports indicate they were subjected to harassment, physical assault, and arbitrary detention. Several reporters disclosed experiences of police using unjustified force against them, with some having their equipment confiscated or being forced to delete footage to prevent coverage of the protests. This repression of media freedom underscores the broader issue of government efforts to silence dissent.
The Amnesty International findings call for urgent action from the Kenyan government, including providing reparations to victims and prosecuting those responsible for human rights abuses. They urge the ratification of the UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances and emphasize the necessity of respecting human rights in any policy implementation. These events were covered in detail by JURIST.
Kenyans expressed their discontent prominently on June 25, 2024, when protests erupted against a proposed finance bill. The government’s response included deploying water cannons, using ammunitions against protesters, and engaging in further abductions and arbitrary detentions. The demonstrations were not solely against the finance bill. They also addressed broader grievances regarding endemic corruption impacting services and governance, as well as the erosion of the rule of law.
Despite attempts at legal reforms, Kenya’s score on the international corruption index declined in 2025, highlighting ineffective oversight mechanisms. Following these events, protests in June 2026 against a contentious national park construction project were similarly met with forceful crackdowns by authorities, as detailed in Human Rights Watch reports. Kenya continues to face significant challenges in balancing security measures with respecting citizens’ rights to assembly and free expression.