Kenya

Kenya’s democratic system is fundamentally threatened by corruption, cronyism, police brutality and ethnic rivalries that are exploited by political leaders. Counter terrorism efforts often feature pervasive and discriminatory tactics targeting Muslim and ethnic Somali communities, and election tensions or irregularities have led to widespread protests and police crackdowns.

There has been a rise in the use of lethal force by Kenyan police, particularly in response to those exercising their right to protest. In 2016, police officers allegedly killed a total of 122 civilians, a 7% increase from 2015. Police have frequently beaten and used live ammunition against protestors, particularly around elections.

Journalists, bloggers, and activists are also frequently arrested or prosecuted on a variety of charges, and officials have allegedly pressured media outlets to curb unfavorable coverage. Despite pressures, many media houses continued to produce critical reporting on the government, and a number of activists use the country’s judicial system to fight back against threats.

ARTICLE 19 has successfully sought to protect free expression through the courts, leading to the High Court in Kenya declaring parts of laws on criminal defamation and ‘undermining public authority’ unconstitutional. We have worked with bloggers and online communicators to train them in online safety and challenged laws unduly limiting online expression. We train civil society and public officials on how to use and implement the Freedom of Information Act, and we assist civil society groups in engaging with the international and regional bodies.

Right to Know Day: Empowering people and holding the powerful to account
28.09.2022 11 min read

Right to Know Day: Empowering people and holding the powerful to account

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Kenya: Tackling misinformation is critical for electoral integrity
01.09.2022 5 min read

Kenya: Tackling misinformation is critical for electoral integrity

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Kenya: Anticipation and hope for change ahead of general election
08.08.2022 6 min read

Kenya: Anticipation and hope for change ahead of general election

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Kenya: Social media platforms must act on hate speech ahead of elections
01.08.2022 4 min read

Kenya: Social media platforms must act on hate speech ahead of elections

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#FreeToProtest: campaign calls for respect of the right to protest in Kenya
07.07.2022 6 min read

#FreeToProtest: campaign calls for respect of the right to protest in Kenya

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Kenya: Police who fired at protesters must be arrested and held to account
07.06.2022 5 min read

Kenya: Police who fired at protesters must be arrested and held to account

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Kenya: Twitter must stop silencing human rights defenders
27.05.2022 5 min read

Kenya: Twitter must stop silencing human rights defenders

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Kenya: LGBTQI+ rights must be championed by civil society
17.05.2022 7 min read

Kenya: LGBTQI+ rights must be championed by civil society

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Kenya: Protect the right to protest
12.04.2022 5 min read

Kenya: Protect the right to protest

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