The United States and European embassies in Kenya have raised concerns over the use of 'hired goons' to disrupt peaceful protests in the country ahead of the first anniversary of the June 25, 2024, Gen Z protests.
In a joint statement issued by ambassadors and high commissioners, the envoys said they were troubled by reports of hired individuals being used to infiltrate or disrupt planned demonstrations. "We are troubled by the use of hired 'goons' to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings.
Protecting the rights to protest is vital to preserving civic space and a cornerstone of Kenya's vibrant democracy," the statement signed by 12 embassies read.
The envoys also called for swift, transparent, and independent investigations into all incidents of violence against peaceful protesters, while urging Kenyan police to refrain from deploying officers in plain clothes, in line with a High Court ruling. "The use of plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles erodes public trust and was ruled unlawful by the high court.
