Human Rights Watch official Otsieno Namwaya says police target him instead of rights abusers

The international human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised concerns over what it calls harassment of its top official in Kenya.

The organisation is urging President William Ruto’s administration to stop the intimidation of Otsieno Namwaya, HRW’s associate Africa director, who has been documenting serious rights abuses in the country.

Speaking exclusively to The Eastleigh Voice on Monday, Namwaya alleged he was facing harassment and intimidation because of his work.

"Yes, the police have been acting very strangely. They don't want to do a formal arrest. They want to come to my house at night like a militia or goons. I believe this allows them to deny being involved in anything that takes place when they come to my house," said Namwaya.

He noted that his work has often put him at odds with the authorities. "I can say that, yes, we have consistently tracked human rights abuses, including protests, and we will continue to do so going forward. That is our mandate, and we will continue to do so as long as state and non-state actors continue to be implicated," he said.

Alarming turn

Namwaya added that human rights violations in Kenya have taken an alarming turn, with authorities seemingly more focused on targeting those who document abuses rather than the perpetrators themselves.

Between August 23 and 25, 2025, security officials allegedly conducted surveillance on Namwaya’s home. These incidents came after weeks of attempts by individuals believed to be from the Operation Support Unit—housed within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)—to clandestinely access him.

"The surveillance of a Human Rights Watch staff member is a stark reminder of the ongoing threats and repression facing rights activists in Kenya today," said Federico Borello, HRW’s interim executive director. "Instead of allowing police units to target activists, Kenyan authorities should be working to improve the space in which civil society operates."

Three neighbours told Namwaya that on the evening of August 23, six men, thought to be plainclothes officers, parked three vehicles at a local police station before walking around his neighbourhood.

Witnesses

Witnesses later said the same men returned on the morning of August 25, again parking at the station before proceeding to Namwaya’s home. One of them was reportedly on his phone constantly. Another appeared to take photos of the house.

The group stayed in the area for several hours before returning to the police station, speaking briefly with officers, and later driving away.

According to HRW, this surveillance followed months of attempts by government security agents to trace Namwaya through his acquaintances.

Unofficial police sources told the organisation that the operation is being led by a senior member of the Operation Support Unit.

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Namwaya has worked with HRW in Kenya for over 13 years, documenting excessive force and other abuses by security forces, especially during protests. His recent work has highlighted violations during the 2024 and 2025 demonstrations and the broader crackdown on rights defenders.

Implicated in abductions

HRW and other organisations have reported that the Operation Support Unit, alongside the National Intelligence Service and the Operation Action Team, has been implicated in abductions and enforced disappearances of protesters since 2024.

On August 27, HRW wrote to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Kirocho, asking whether a warrant had been issued for Namwaya’s arrest and requesting clarity on the allegations against him. The organisation also sought security guarantees for Namwaya and his family within 24 hours. The inspector general has yet to respond.

HRW is now demanding that authorities explain the legal basis for surveillance on Namwaya and why due process, such as issuing a summons or warrant, has not been followed.

It has also called on Kenya’s international partners to press the government to end harassment of civil society and ensure accountability for serious abuses, including abductions and disappearances.

The intimidation has forced Namwaya to temporarily move out of his home for safety.

"I moved out of my house temporarily, but have gone back. However, I still need assurances from the police about what exactly they are looking for and why they are not following the due process," said Namwaya.