Fear not! Stand against authoritarianism by Ruto's regime, Karua tells Kenyans

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has urged Kenyans to stand firm against what she described as the authoritarian tendencies of President William Ruto's administration.

She called on citizens to resist intimidation and oppose policies she termed as detrimental, labelling the current regime "the worst since independence."

Speaking during an interview with Nation, she accused the Kenya Kwanza Government of human rights violations, including illegal abductions and extrajudicial killings.

"Kenya Kwanza is the worst administration to ever serve Kenyans since independence," Karua said.

"To its credit, it holds the cup for illegal abduction of its own citizens and wanton reckless execution of its people for no reason, the best example being the Gen Z protests."

Karua further accused the government of violating international laws by abducting foreign nationals and deporting them unlawfully.

She condemned the administration's actions, referring to the recent case of four Turkish nationals—Alparslan Taşçı, Mustafa Genç, Huseyin Yesilsa, and Öztürk Uzun—who were forcibly returned to Turkey.

"The abduction of citizens, like the missing Wajir MCA who was reportedly held at an un-gazetted police location, highlights the impunity of this government. They must come clean about these violations," she said.

Karua likened the government to a destructive parent, warning Kenyans against succumbing to fear.

"This government is a parent who eats their children for dinner. Kenyans must be serious. Fear is not an option because he will still get you or your loved one with your fear, even under your bed. Come out, let us stand firm and say no together."

She urged citizens to unite and resist, warning that failure to act could lead to greater authoritarianism.

"Fear is not an option," she said, calling on Kenyans to stand against any attempts to erode their freedoms.

According to a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 60 people were killed during the Gen-Z protests in June and July.

The report also disclosed that 74 protesters forcibly disappeared between June and November 2024, with 26 individuals still missing.

The findings revealed a worrying pattern of unresolved killings linked to security agencies. KNCHR documented 1,376 arbitrary arrests and 610 injuries sustained by protesters, ranging from bullet wounds and deep fractures to soft tissue damage and tear gas inhalation.

Most injuries were reportedly inflicted by security officers, although 25 cases of injuries to law enforcement caused by protesters were also recorded.

The data was part of the State of Human Rights Report 2023/24, which covered an 18-month period from July 2023 to November 2024.

The report also highlighted violations of the right to life during the mid-2024 Anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. Additionally, it raised concerns over a spike in femicide, noting the murder of at least 97 women in the past three months. Particularly alarming was the discovery of 10 decomposing female bodies at the Kware dumpsite in Nairobi's Mukuru area, prompting calls for swift investigations to ensure justice.

KNCHR acknowledged efforts by the Inspector-General of Police in recognising the deaths during the protests and urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take action against officers implicated in the violations.