The killing of protesters in Kenya is a “betrayal of democratic principles”

ActionAid is deeply concerned about the heavy-handed response to yesterday’s protests in Kenya. Protesters have been again killed at a moment when the country was commemorating the devastating loss of lives in last year’s anti-tax bill protests.

Reacting to the killing of protesters, Arthur Larok, the Secretary General of ActionAid, said,

"The killings in yesterday's commemorative protests is unacceptable. Once again, we saw a disproportionate use of force against protesters exercising their right to free expression. This is a clear dereliction of the State’s duty to respect and protect the rights of citizens.

We urge the Kenyan government to exercise restraint and ensure that protesters are protected rather than victimised by their state. It is disheartening that the same brute force and heavy-handedness that happened last year reared its ugly head again yesterday.”

We demand an end to this continued violent assault on civil liberties and a betrayal of democratic principles. The world’s gaze is firmly fixed on Kenya, and we expect nothing less than the upholding of fundamental human rights.”