US Pressures Ruto to Jail Police Involved in Abductions and Murders Amid Deadly Protest Crackdown
President William Ruto is under increasing pressure from the United States to ensure police accountability for their actions during the violent crackdown on anti-finance bill protests that began in mid-June.
The demonstrations, primarily led by frustrated youth, resulted in at least 61 fatalities, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), with more than 60 people reported missing.
The harsh response has provoked outrage both within Kenya and abroad, prompting the US government to demand prompt justice.
US Senator Chris Murphy, a key figure on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has taken a strong position on the matter. After his recent visit to Kenya, Murphy communicated the US government’s call for accountability directly to President Ruto.
Murphy’s visit follows similar concerns expressed by Uzra Zeya, the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, during her visit in July.
Murphy told Semafor Africa, “The violent and poorly executed crackdowns we observed during the protests often lead to greater instability rather than stability.”
He stressed that the strong US-Kenya relationship cannot reach its full potential unless Ruto’s administration is genuinely committed to holding those responsible for the abuses accountable.
“It is crucial for US leaders to voice these concerns and make it clear that our relationship cannot reach its peak unless the Kenyan government is truly committed to holding accountable anyone involved in abuse, especially in the context of these protests,” Murphy added.
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The crackdown has overshadowed the previously cordial relationship between Nairobi and Washington, which was notably exemplified by Ruto’s state visit to the US in May. During this visit, President Joe Biden extended a rare honor to Ruto, marking the first state visit by an African head of state to the US in sixty years.
One of the key results of the visit was Biden’s commitment to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, a designation shared by only 16 other countries worldwide.
Yet, the violent suppression of protests and the subsequent inaction against the involved police officers have strained this newly established diplomatic warmth.
Washington’s strategic interest in Kenya, particularly with the growing influence of China, Russia, and Gulf states in Africa, means that the US is closely monitoring how the Ruto administration addresses these internal issues.
The protests were triggered by widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s finance bill, which many Kenyans felt worsened the already severe economic conditions. The police response was immediate and brutal, resulting in numerous deaths, injuries, and disappearances.
Despite ongoing investigations by Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), no police officers have been prosecuted or dismissed about the protests, a situation that has drawn US attention.
MPs have also voiced frustration over the lack of progress in holding the police accountable. Last week, they called on IPOA to provide and publish detailed information about its investigations into the deaths from the protests by the end of August.
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Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba echoed the concerns of many when she challenged IPOA officials: “You haven’t managed to arrest or convict those responsible for the abductions, deaths, and human rights violations. What has IPOA done?”
The US pressure comes at a crucial moment for Kenya as it navigates internal challenges while maintaining its role as a key ally in regional and global issues.
Nairobi’s collaboration with Washington goes beyond bilateral relations, including efforts to combat terrorism in Africa, stabilize Haiti, and support Ukraine.
Despite the robust strategic partnership, the US has yet to reveal whether the lack of justice for the protest victims will affect the funding and support promised during Ruto’s state visit.
For many Kenyans, the pressing concern remains whether justice will be served for the victims of the crackdown and if the promises of accountability will result in meaningful action.
US Pressures Ruto to Jail Police Involved in Abductions and Murders Amid Deadly Protest Crackdown
