• KHRC said accessing government-funded loans has now become frustrating for poor students due to complicated preselection criteria.
• In his New Year message, President Ruto said some of the choices his government were undoubtedly painful in the short-term but will have gainful long-term outcomes.
Image: PCS
The Kenya Human Rights Commission has indicted the Kenya Kwanza government in its 2023 score card for the William Ruto-led regime as the year comes to a close.
In a statement on New Year's Eve, KHRC said the government introduced punitive taxes via the Finance Act, 2023, and other policies causing unprecedented inflation.
"Thus, life in 2023 was so hard and unbearable. There were many indications of massive poverty and suffering nationwide," the commission said.
It added that the Kenya Kwanza government also impeded the civic space by denying people their constitutional rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and protest.
KHRC said this occurred between April and August during anti-government street protests against the Finance Bill, 2023, and the escalating cost of living.
"These events marked one of the darkest chapters in the country's history since the passage of the Constitution in 2010. Intolerance towards free speech took a tragic turn with the killing of blogger Daniel Muthiani in Meru," it said.
The commission also accused the government of biased public appointments that also fell short of meeting the two-thirds gender rule in line with the law, raising questions about the government's dedication to inclusivity, fairness, and adherence to the rule of law.
This, KHRC said, lends credence to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's declaration that the government was a "shareholder-holding government".
"Tangible actions substantiated Gachagua's rhetoric, which is evident in development initiatives and public appointments," it said.
The Commission also accused the government of blatant disregard of the protective provisions enshrined in the Constitution by carrying out evictions, notably in Mau, Portland Cement Company land in Mavoko, and Changamwe in Mombasa.
"All these evictions resulted in severe human rights violations, humanitarian crises, and substantial economic losses for the affected population," KHRC said.
On education, the commission faulted the government of introducing the new university funding model which it said worsened disparities and placed undue burden on students from poor backgrounds.
KHRC said accessing government-funded loans has now become frustrating for poor students due to complicated preselection criteria.
"Moreover, the recent mess in processing the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams pointed to a deeply entrenched and compromised examination process in Kenya."
The commission further said the government's pledge to provide universal health care has come a cropper following the "cosmetic" transformation of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) into the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
As 2023 draws to a close, it said the NHIF still owes private hospitals significant sums of money, running into billions of shillings, and hospitals are now refusing to provide treatment until the outstanding bills are settled.
"Unfortunately, there is no indication that the government intends to address this substantial debt promptly, resulting in the continued denial of critical healthcare to millions of Kenyans," KHRC said.
In his New Year's message, President Ruto said some of the choices his government made were undoubtedly painful in the short term but would have beneficial long-term outcomes.
"For the first time, every Kenyan, without exception, will have health insurance, and all Kenyans will access treatment, including for notorious chronic conditions like cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, without discrimination," Ruto said in the message delivered from State House, Nakuru.