LSK, Police Reforms Working Group condemn storming of KHRC offices ahead of Saba Saba protests

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG) have condemned the Sunday storming of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) offices in Nairobi by armed goons, disrupting a planned meeting ahead of the Saba Saba protests on Monday, July 7.

According to LSK and PRWG, nearly 100 individuals, including mothers and children of victims of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances and journalists, attended the meeting.

In a joint statement, the two bodies described the incident as an attempt to intimidate human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists, noting that it violated Kenya's constitutional freedoms and democratic principles.

"The purpose of this gathering was to call for accountability and justice for those who have died, disappeared and been injured. The presser was also to call for the de-escalation of violence witnessed across the country," the statement reads.

"Shockingly, this exercise of democratic expression was violently disrupted by at least 50 masked individuals, armed with clubs (rungus) and pickaxes. These goons invaded the premises, issuing threats that forced the immediate dispersal of the gathering to prevent further violence and potential harm."

Further, LSK and PRWG maintained that the incident mirrors an escalating trend of repression targeting human rights defenders in Kenya.

"This attack follows a concerning pattern of targeting the Kenya Human Rights Commission, exemplified by the deportation on July 5th of their Program Advisor, Ugandan national Martin Mavenjina. Such actions indicate a deliberate effort to intimidate and cripple human rights organizations," the civil groups said.

They added that the targeting and intimidation of journalists at the press conference was an unacceptable attack on the freedom of the press, emphasising that journalists must be allowed to report freely and safely without fear of reprisal or violence.

"The deliberate targeting of HRDs, especially those working on sensitive issues like police accountability and extrajudicial killings, creates a chilling effect and undermines the critical space for civil society," the groups said.

"Lastly, the presence of mothers and children, many of whom are already traumatised by the loss or abduction of their loved ones, makes this attack particularly heinous."

Further, the civil society groups demanded an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the incident.

"We call upon the inspector general of police and all relevant security agencies to condemn, identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this violent invasion and ensure they are brought to justice without delay, regardless of their affiliations," they said.

They also urged relevant authorities to guarantee the safety and security of journalists, human rights defenders, women, and all citizens exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.

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