By Kenyan foreign policy
Leading human rights organizations have expressed concern over Kenya’s worsening score in civic freedoms under President William Ruto’s administration.
The December report by Civicus, a global alliance of civil society organizations, highlights an alarming decline in civic freedoms across Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the People Power Under Attack 2024 report, Kenya’s status was downgraded from “Obstructed” to “Repressed” due to violent crackdowns on nationwide protests earlier this year.
The report has drawn attention from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), which considers this a direct indictment of the current administration.
Davies Malombe, Executive Director of KHRC, urged Kenyans to take a stand against oppression.
“This report is a clear indication to Kenyans that they must rise against an oppressive government keen on suppressing them in almost all fronts,” Malombe stated.
Human rights lawyer and Civicus researcher Sylvia Mbataru highlighted that nearly 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population now lives in repressed civic spaces, with limited access to their rights or democratic participation.
“A vast majority are no longer able to access their rights, speak out, or engage in democracy or governance efforts. This is a deeply concerning trend,” she said.
The report specifically identifies Ethiopia and Kenya as two nations where civic spaces have notably deteriorated.
Ethiopia was downgraded to “Closed,” the most severe rating, following aggressive actions by the Addis Ababa government against civil society groups.
“This rating change reflects a multilayered assault on civic freedoms,” said Mbataru.
In Kenya, protests against a proposed tax bill were met with brutal responses, including detentions, abductions, and harassment of journalists and human rights activists.
These actions, Civicus argues, indicate Kenya’s deviation from its role as a regional leader and its failure to uphold democratic principles.
“Kenya stood at a crossroads as a country and a regional leader. Instead of leading by example, it chose repression, stifling expression and instilling fear in its population,” said Mbataru.
The Civicus Monitor, a global research tool tracking civic space conditions across 198 countries, evaluates instances of protests, censorship, and arrests. Based on this data, nations are given scores—higher scores signify more open and democratic civic spaces, while lower scores indicate repression and restrictions.
The findings highlight the urgent need for a renewed commitment to transparency, rights protection, and democratic governance to reverse this troubling trend in Kenya and the wider Sub-Saharan region.