The going has gotten tough for the hustler President in Kenya.
Kenya’s government, under the leadership of President William Ruto, is facing increasingly severe accusations of repression, human rights violations, and governance failures.
A recent release by civil society organizations, spearheaded by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), paints a bleak picture of the country’s slide into authoritarianism. The organizations highlighted a growing list of human rights abuses, including state violence, political repression, a collapsed healthcare system, and rampant femicide, all exacerbated by a government that seems indifferent to the suffering of its citizens.
In a significant development, the international watchdog organization CIVICUS downgraded Kenya’s civic space rating from "obstructed" to "repressed" in 2025, citing the government’s systematic violation of human rights. The report accuses the Ruto administration of employing violent tactics to silence dissent and stifle public criticism.
"Our country is bleeding," the statement declares, as it details the mounting deaths and injuries caused by the government's actions. The Kenyan state is tightening its grip on power, with little regard for the fundamental rights of its citizens.
"Kenya's slide into repression is a tragedy that has been unfolding before our eyes," the civil society organizations said in their release. "We are witnessing a government that is willing to trample on human rights, silencing critics and punishing anyone who dares question its authority."
State Violence and Crackdowns on Dissent
One of the most alarming trends raised by the organization is the escalation of state violence against its citizens, especially in the context of protests and political dissent. They said that since the beginning of 2025, the government has been increasingly aggressive in its crackdown on opposition and civil society actors. Schoolchildren from Butere Girls who performed a play critical of the government's accountability, were among those targeted in this unrelenting pursuit of control.
The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) reported that between January and September 2023 alone, there were 228 cases of police torture, 67 extrajudicial killings, and one enforced disappearance. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) further documented 63 deaths, 610 injuries, and 1,376 arbitrary arrests during the so-called Gen-Z protests between June and November 2024.
“These atrocities were allegedly committed by units within the DCI, Administration Police’s Rapid Deployment Unit, Military Intelligence, Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, and the National Intelligence Service,” claimed the organizations, reflecting the growing concerns over the systematic and institutionalized use of force by state agencies.
Protests in Kenya have increasingly turned violent .Photo courtesy
The violence has not been limited to civilians; political activists and opposition figures have also been targeted. In one instance, during the anti-femicide march in December 2024, police arrested 10 protesters and injured many others. Meanwhile, opposition events have been disrupted, with police often resorting to tear gas and other forms of violent suppression to prevent dissent from spreading.
"These acts are not just a violation of rights; they are an attempt to intimidate and suppress any form of public opposition," they said.
The scope of repression under the Ruto administration has even extended beyond Kenya’s borders. The country has increasingly become a hub for politically motivated abductions of foreigners, raising serious concerns over its international reputation. Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, and numerous individuals from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Uganda have all been abducted by Kenyan authorities, allegedly for political reasons. In Kisumu alone, 36 Ugandans were taken in a politically motivated operation.
The international community has expressed alarm over the situation, especially after reports surfaced that journalists covering these abductions were targeted with harassment and physical assaults.
“Journalists covering these incidents have faced intimidation and assault,” the civil society organizations lamented. The targeting of journalists adds to the climate of fear and suspicion, making it increasingly difficult for the media to operate freely within the country.
Political Violence
Political violence has also become a hallmark of Ruto’s administration. Hired thugs, often with ties to political factions, have disrupted public meetings and rallies, creating an atmosphere of lawlessness and fear. An alarming example occurred on March 20, when a traders' meeting in Limuru, Central Kenya, was violently disrupted by goons. Ruto’s rallies in Nairobi have also been marred by robbery and violent attacks against Kenyans attending the events.
Even the former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has not been spared. His public events have been disrupted by hired thugs, underscoring the extent of political violence in the country. Despite numerous incidents of violence, the government has failed to take action against those responsible.
“Zero accountability from the government,” the organizations added.
The issue of police violence, particularly the use of non-lethal weapons such as tear gas, water cannons, and batons, has been a point of contention. The government’s continued use of these weapons remains unregulated, with no laws governing their acquisition or use. They called for immediate reforms to protect the right to peaceful assembly and expression, which has been increasingly under threat under the current regime.
Civil society groups are calling for urgent reforms on how femicide is handled in Kenya.Photo credit AP
A Femicide Crisis
Kenya is also grappling with a devastating femicide crisis. The murder of women has reached alarming levels, with 129 women killed between January and March 2025 alone. The previous year saw 579 femicide deaths, an issue that continues to be largely ignored by the authorities. In many cases, police have been either complicit or inactive, particularly in rural areas and informal settlements, where women face heightened risks of violence.
The civil society groups behind the release are calling for urgent reforms in how femicide is handled in Kenya.
"We demand that femicide be included as a distinct offence under the Penal Code," they stated, urging lawmakers to prioritize the issue.
They are also advocating for better forensic investigations, police training, and the establishment of a special prosecutorial unit dedicated to gender-based violence (GBV) cases. The demand for transparency, with regular reporting on femicide cases, has also been highlighted as a necessary step in addressing the crisis.
Socio-Economic Collapse
Beyond the violence and repression, Kenya's socio-economic systems are in freefall. The education sector faces deep systemic failures, with underfunding, outdated infrastructure and curriculum confusion wreaking havoc on the future of Kenya's youth. Despite court rulings that deemed the current university funding model unconstitutional, the government continues to push for its implementation.
"We demand a national education support fund for marginalized children," the organization noted, demanding the need for investment in both the infrastructure and teacher development to ensure that all Kenyan children receive a quality education.
Similarly, the public health system has all but collapsed under the weight of mismanagement and corruption. The shift from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) has left millions of Kenyans without adequate healthcare services. The transition has been marked by exclusion and confusion, with over 75% of Kenyans believing the SHA to be corrupt and mismanaged.
The civil society groups are demanding a complete overhaul of the SHA system, along with faster disbursements to healthcare providers and a renewed focus on universal healthcare for all Kenyans.
The Housing Crisis
Another pressing issue noted by the group is the threat to housing security posed by the Business Laws (Amendment) Bill, which proposes to shorten foreclosure timelines. This move risks mass evictions, particularly for low-income families in informal settlements, where court rulings on compensation and relocation have already been violated.
“We demand that the proposed amendments to the Land Act be withdrawn,” the civil society organizations assert, calling for the enforcement of judicial pronouncements on compensation and alternative housing.
The accusations levelled against President William Ruto’s administration paint a picture of a government that is rapidly losing touch with the people it is meant to serve. The growing repression, state violence, femicide, economic collapse, and human rights violations demand urgent attention from both Kenyan citizens and the international community.
The organizations believe that the time for action is now, as the country faces a critical juncture in its history. Without significant change, Kenya’s future looks increasingly bleak.
