According to Amnesty International, after anti -nationwide anti -government protests in Kenya on June 25, tear gas fog raised after anti -nation protests in Kenya: 19 protesters were killed and at least 500 were injured.
Local journalists said that the police not only used tear gas and rubber pills against the protesters, but in many cases there were ammunition. So allegedly violence from individual protesters, the capital Nairobi and beyond shops. The planned day of the protest marked the first anniversary as people killed a storm in Parliament during government demonstrations in 2024, killing 60 people.
A hard response by security forces and an emergency order by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has banned live coverage of protest, increased concerns about freedom of expression in the country. While the judges immediately cancel the order, which refers to a section of the Constitution that motivates violence from freedom of expression, this effort is non -violent.
Youth on obstacles with government
Muthoki Mumu monitored the status of sub-Sahara Africa from Nairobi in Sub-Sahara Africa, which is for the committee for the Protection of Journalist (CPJ). They believe that CA has been used here as a political weapon.
“We can say with historical context, this government has not taken well, not responded well for criticism as thousands of youth, who tachies on the roads at various points compared to the previous year. And I look at the order,” he told DW.
In 2018, the CA issued a similar order under Uhuru Kenyata, an predecessor of President William Ruto. It was only in November 2024 that the High Court disqualified that the CA had no right to prevent live reporting.
Meanwhile, young people have separated rapidly as a confrontation with the government. Most of the protesting is from Generation Z, which was born in the late 2010s in the late 1990s.
In the last summer, the first major general Z protest was directed against the law by employing a employed. But the focus quickly moved to the economic situation, overall, lack of equal opportunities, and dissatisfaction with status, who won the 2022 election with promises of social reform, but failed to reduce the financial burden for most of the family.
Censorship and violence against journalists
Irungu Huton, director of Kenya Division, Amnesty International, told DW, “To close the media just because they report what people are saying on the streets, almost very low to cover the real sense of resentment in the country.”
He said that live broadcasting information is importing to the coordination of deployment of emergency paramedics, or for citizens trying to avoid possible growth.
Therefore, journalists and bloggers are made aware of this risk. In recent months, CPJ Representative Mumo has been reiterated about cases in which security forces attacked journalists such as Catherine Vangery, who were hit with rubber bullets during protests in the city of Central Canyi city Nakuru, despite being clearly identified as press.
“I am very doubted about any story that tells that … we see that our people are just being caught in the crossfire,” said Mumu.
“time and time again, [we have seen] Journalists are clearly identified and targeted with violence. Secondly, even though we wanted to say that thesis journalists were caught in a crossfire, it is illuminated that a citizen was legated, “he said.” It still indicates the culture of violence, the creed of impurities. ,
Worker at risk
The situation for the press is not the only one which has reduced significantly to a great extent, said Huton, director of Amnesty.
“The second concern is how it has begun to move those persons on social media platforms. And so, you will have 30.000 or 40,000 followers purely targeted because a powerful person or a comment about a project, Oror called for a demonstration because it was the case on Wednesday,” Hey said. “
“For a long time, I have seen especially in Kenya that the state comes after dissatisfaction, it does not begin in the oldest or most established media house, where experienced journalists who are great,” Mumu said. “It begins on margin. It begins with someone who posted on a blog that he started recently. It begins where some posted on X or Facebook or Ticketkok.”
An incident that has ruled the General Z protests in recent weeks, fits in this pattern: Anti -corruption activist Albert Ozwang died after accusing a senior police officer of corruption on social network X in police custody earlier this month. The injuries were self-inspired. But meanwhile, three police officers are ready to prosecute for murder.
Rose Najri found police custody in early June without legal representation. The software developer created a tool for users to lodge items to make the Tax Act of Rooto online. He was accused of violating a law against cyber crime and computer misuse of which which was introduced in 2018.
Both Mumu and Huton separated the law as a political “weapon” against uncommon voices in civil society.
Government called protests as ‘coup’
General Z has triggered new demonstrations on the treatment of people like Catherine Vangery, Albert Ozwang and Rose Negeri. Kenya has been a clearly modern constitution with far -reaching citizens freedom since 2010, and thesis is often well -educated young adults to know adequately to implement their basic rights.
“I can get out here.,“A protestor told DW on Wednesday.
But in view of the protests, the government shows very few signs of giving concessions: on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary of the Interior Ministry Kipchumba Merkomain called him a “attempt to plan” by “criminal anarchists”.
Huton emphasizes that General Z is eventually demanding opportunities for development and development.
“If the government does not see and addresses the chief, the protests will continue this point. But of course the question is: If the elections are in 2027, it is still a long way for a population that there is no patience,” he said.
Sela Vanako contributed to this report of Nairobi. This article was original in German.
