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Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua Thursday vowed to escalate the fight against what she describes as severe human rights violations in Kenya by moving to international bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
In a strongly-worded statement titled “Lest We Forget,” Karua condemned the government’s recent actions against protesters, describing them as illegal and unconstitutional. She pointed to incidents of arbitrary arrests, abductions, and extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the police during anti-government demonstrations as evidence of a systematic clampdown on dissent.
Karua accused President William Ruto’s administration of employing tactics of fear and intimidation to suppress opposition voices. She emphasized that such actions must not go unchallenged and promised to file a formal petition against the government at both continental and global levels.
“We will submit this statement, along with additional evidence, as a formal complaint to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the UN Human Rights Commission, and other relevant international organizations. Kenya is bound by international agreements to uphold human rights,” Karua said.
The senior counsel referenced a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) indicating that more than 50 people have been missing since June 25th. She questioned the fate of these individuals and demanded accountability, saying, “We cannot stay silent in the face of such injustices. Silence would make us complicit in these betrayals.”
Karua also criticized the government’s disregard for court orders, particularly the use of excessive force during protests despite judicial rulings against such measures.
As the 14th anniversary of the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution approaches on August 27th, Karua hinted at the possibility of renewed street protests. She warned the authorities that they must adhere to the law in managing these demonstrations. “As we reflect on the promises of our Constitution, we must question how far we have drifted from its principles,” she said.
Social media reports intimate a possible new wave of protests, led by Gen Zs, to coincide with the anniversary.
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