"We'll not be silenced!" Kenyan diaspora speaks out against police brutality, media gag

Kenyans living abroad have strongly condemned the government’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters and illegal orders to shut down live media coverage, warning that the country is sliding into tyranny.

In a statement released from Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, they accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of attacking unarmed citizens and gagging the press during nationwide demonstrations marking one year since the Gen Z protests began.

“When a government fires on its own people and shuts down the media, it ceases to be leadership— it becomes tyranny,” the statement read.

They went ahead and said that Kenya is in pain; however, the people will not be silenced.

As a result, the diaspora called on President William Ruto to publicly assure the nation that no life will be lost, no Kenyan will be kidnapped or tortured for exercising their rights, and that peaceful assembly will be fully protected.

These, they said, are basic constitutional guarantees the government must not ignore.

They further demanded the immediate reversal of the illegal shutdown of broadcasting signals for NTV, KTN and Citizen TV.

“This blatant violation of constitutional press freedoms demands the harshest public and legal condemnation,” they said.

The Communications Authority of Kenya had ordered the media outlets to stop live coverage after the protests began to intensify on Tuesday afternoon

The third demand was the immediate withdrawal of all armed and uniformed forces deployed to intimidate, harm or suppress peaceful protests.

“Protesters came unarmed, in peace, bearing wreaths, not weapons. In response, the government unleashed teargas, riot police, and brute force upon its own people,” the diaspora people noted.

Human rights groups reported that at least eight Kenyans were killed and more than 80 others were receiving specialised treatment, some with gunshot wounds.

The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had tracked protests in 23 counties, with over 400 injuries and more than 60 arrests recorded.

In Nairobi, access towards Parliament and the president’s office was barricaded with razor wire, and all access roads were blocked by police.

Protesters clashed with officers in major cities including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nyahururu, with police firing tear gas, using batons and live rounds to disperse crowds.

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The protests were held to commemorate those killed, maimed, tortured or kidnapped during the 2024 uprising, which saw over 60 people killed and at least 20 still missing.

During last year’s unrest, protesters stormed Parliament, where a controversial tax bill was passed, and parts of the building were set on fire as lawmakers fled.

The diaspora, many of whom have supported democratic reforms for decades, said they would not stand by while citizens are silenced through violence and fear.

“Kenya belongs to its people, not to any regime. And the people at home and abroad will not be silenced,” they argued.

In addition, Kenyans living abroad warned the government that any further repression or censorship would face serious consequences.

“We warn the Government of Kenya that any further repression, violence, or media censorship will not go unnoticed. Should any harm befall innocent Kenyans due to State-sanctioned violence, there will be a full reckoning— legally, constitutionally, and globally,” they concluded.