The United States Embassy in Nairobi, along with eleven other foreign missions, has issued a joint statement marking one year since the 2024 Finance Bill protests, urging respect for peaceful demonstrations and accountability in the handling of protest-related violence.
The statement, released ahead of the June 25 anniversary, pays tribute to those who lost their lives during last year’s nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill, which sparked widespread public outcry. The envoys reaffirmed every Kenyan’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Joint statement released ahead of the June 25 anniversary. PHOTO/COURTESY/@USEmbassyKenya
“As citizens prepare to mark this anniversary, we call on all to facilitate peaceful demonstrations and to refrain from violence,” the statement read, highlighting concerns over the use of plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles. The diplomats reminded authorities that such tactics were ruled unlawful by Kenya’s High Court and called for full adherence to the ruling.
The statement also raised alarm over the deployment of hired individuals, or “goons,” to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings. The envoys stressed that safeguarding the right to protest is essential to protecting Kenya’s civic space and democratic values.
Calling for justice, the diplomats renewed their demand for “swift, transparent, and independent investigations” into all incidents of violence against peaceful demonstrators. “Transparency and accountability are critical, not only for justice, but for restoring confidence in the institutions meant to serve and protect their citizens,” the statement concluded.
The joint declaration was signed by the embassies and high commissions of the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Finland.
Written By Rodney Mbua
