A group of foreign envoys in Kenya has called for peaceful protests and accountability ahead of Wednesday, June 25, demos.
In a joint statement, the envoys encouraged respect for peaceful protests as the country marks one year since demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill.
They include ambassadors and high commissioners from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, and Finland.
The diplomats expressed support for Kenyans’ right to voice concerns without fear of violence or intimidation.
They also called on all parties to support non-violent demonstrations, even as they reaffirmed the right of every Kenyan to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The envoys raised concerns about the use of plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles, noting that the High Court had already ruled such tactics unlawful.
They urged full compliance with that ruling to maintain public trust.
“The use of plain clothes officers in unmarked vehicles erodes public trust and was ruled unlawful by the high court.”
The diplomats also voiced concern over the use of hired goons to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings.
They emphasized that protecting the right to protest is essential to preserving civic space and is a key part of Kenya’s democracy.
The statement renewed calls for independent and transparent investigations into all incidents involving violence against peaceful demonstrators.
The envoys stressed that accountability is not only necessary for justice but also for restoring confidence in public institutions.
They said transparency plays a critical role in ensuring that government systems serve and protect citizens.
Their message comes at a time when public debate around civic freedoms and state response to protests continues to draw national and international attention.
The protests, which erupted in June 2024, were driven by outrage over what many viewed as punitive taxation under the now-infamous Finance Bill.
Dozens were killed or injured in the weeks-long standoff between police and defiant protesters, most of them youth.
Lobby groups placed the number of deaths at over 61, while official government data puts the number of deaths at 42.
