Ruto regime in the spot for rising rights abuses

A damning report has indicted President William Ruto's administration for clamping down on human rights through violent abductions, arbitrary arrests and detention.

The government was also faulted for committing extra-judicial killings and engaging in economic reprisals, media repression and even physical attacks on journalists to muzzle dissent.

Runaway impunity, corruption and poor implementation of the constitutional provisions were also said to have surged. Abuse against human rights defenders were also reported in the country.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom report points an accusing finger at security agencies, the judiciary, corporate bodies and businesses and even communities, for being the perpetrators of crimes against human rights defenders. 

It details Kenya’s shrinking civic space and also reveals how human rights defenders are facing an unprecedented wave of repression, from enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings to arbitrary arrests, torture and relentless smear campaigns.

“The killing of human rights defenders calling out the impunity of government officials and State officers remains one of the urgent threats facing those doing this work,” reads the report titled “Crackdown Nation” launched yesterday in Nairobi.

“The rampant killing of 65 protesters, within two months (June-July 2025), the torture and death in police custody of a teacher cum blogger who blew whistle about police corruption, the cold-blooded murder of an activist all show that the cost of defending human rights in Kenya has tragically been paid in blood,” says the report.

In the wake of the anti-government protests in 2024, the report highlights that 84 human rights defenders were abducted by the government as it sought to stem a fresh round of protests.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCH), it adds, recorded that there were 335 arrests in 2024 and at least 179 arrests and 15 forced disappearances in 2025, when human rights defenders joined families to commemorate those killed in the 2024 protests.

Access to justice

They also referred to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) which revealed that total of 1,126 protesters were arrested in 2025. Out of those, 362 were arrested during the June 2024 Gen Z commemorative protests and 760 in the July 7 Saba Saba protests against police corruption and impunity, yet only 223 suspects were arraigned in court.  

The report also focuses on the grave operating environment for human rights defenders who reel under the weight of physical and emotional violence, negative profiling, social and psychological obstacles as well as legal obstacles.

Furthermore, rights defenders in Kenya face systemic obstacles in accessing justice, even after their arrest.

“Not only are their constitutional rights routinely violated through delayed court appearances, denial of charges and restricted access to legal representation, but they are also subjected to punitive measures, including excessive bail. The threat of arbitrary arrest creates a climate of fear, which discourages individuals from engaging in human rights work and can result in mental torture,” adds the report.

The government also came under strong condemnation for its use of the legal system as a weapon to silence, intimidate and punish those who challenge the status quo, with the report decrying the apparent lack of judicial independence. The Judicial system is cited for being slow and biased, leaving human rights defenders vulnerable.

“Moreover, the preponderance of vague and ambiguous laws, such as the Public Order Act, the Penal Code, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, has been used to restrict the activities of human rights defenders. The said laws are open to broad interpretation and selective enforcement, creating room for ambiguity and self-censorship,” reads the report.

The Judiciary in particular stands accused of being complicit in perpetuating violations against rights defenders evidenced by unfair trials and biased judgments.

Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi is currently facing court charges of illegal possession of ammunition linked to protests in June 2025. Investigators claimed they seized phones, a laptop and notebooks from his Lukenya home on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi and hard drives, computers, tear gas canisters and a blank firearm round from his office in the city.

Police also threatened to charge him with "facilitation of terrorist acts but failed to do so. He denied the charges and was released on bail.

To frustrate them, the judiciary also sometimes imposes excessive bail and prolonged pre-trial detention, financially crippling human rights defenders and hindering their work.

Excessive use of force

Furthermore, police have many times failed to investigate or prosecute cases of abuse against activists and enacted legislation that targets them, thus allowing a cycle of impunity to persist.

Further, the President Ruto administration has also frozen the accounts and assets of whistle blowers after conducting suspicious financial and tax audits.

According to the report, security agencies are a key perpetrator of the crimes against people fighting for human rights and more often engaged in the excessive use of force during protests and arrests.

The police also use fabrication of charges and evidence to silence or discredit human rights defenders and sometimes use torture and ill-treatment of them while in custody.

Private companies and business interests, driven by profit maximisation and often operating with little regard for human rights, are also accused of being perpetrators of violence and harassment.

“A lack of corporate social responsibility and weak regulatory frameworks further ex- acerbate the issue, allowing companies to operate with impunity and violate human rights without facing significant consequences,” it reiterates.

Communities, too, while often seen as victims of human rights abuses, can sometimes become perpetrators of abuses which the report notes often occurs when deeply held cultural norms are challenged, these include traditional practices or power structures within their communities.

For instance, those working on sensitive issues like LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, or environmental issues may face backlash, discrimination and even violence from community members who perceive their work as a threat to established social order.

And to remedy the situation, the report calls for a series of policy interventions by various actors such as the government, international community and civil society.

The government should also establish the Office of the Coroner General to facilitate investigation into deaths linked to police brutality. The law was passed in 2017, but it has not been operationalised eight years on.

It’s also urged to establish safe spaces for physical and emotional recovery places where they can heal, rebuild and continue their work without fear. In parallel, an international rapid response network should be created to ensure that when patterns of abuse emerge, defenders are not left to face danger alone.

“The government should investigate all reported threats, attacks and deaths of human rights defenders and hold the perpetrators accountable and reasonably, fairly and justifiably compensate all victims of State violations of human rights,” states the report.