Tensions escalated in Nairobi on Sunday after an armed group stormed the headquarters of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), disrupting preparations for a press conference denouncing state-sponsored violence. The assault occurred on the eve of Saba Saba Day, an annual event commemorating Kenya’s pro-democracy movement of the 1990s.
According to eyewitnesses, approximately 20 assailants, some wielding sticks, forced their way past locked gates into the KHRC compound. The attack targeted organizers and participants gathered for a press briefing hosted by the Women’s Collective Kenya, a grassroots network that campaigns against arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings.
“They were attacking and robbing guys, saying: ‘You are planning protests here’,” an AFP journalist present at the scene reported.
The attack took place before the event had officially begun, forcing attendees to flee for safety. In a statement posted on social media shortly after the incident, the Women’s Collective declared:
“Armed goons have attacked offices of the Kenya Human Rights Commission.”
This incident comes amid rising political unrest and widespread discontent with President William Ruto’s administration, following a wave of nationwide protests that erupted in June 2024. Demonstrators have decried the worsening economic situation, government corruption, and a surge in police brutality.
Tensions further intensified after at least 19 people were killed during mass protests on June 25, with security forces accused of using live ammunition against unarmed civilians. Business districts in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa were heavily looted and vandalized during the chaos.
Rights groups and local journalists have consistently reported that state-linked armed groups, often referred to as “goons”, have been deployed to intimidate or attack demonstrators. On June 17, hundreds of men on motorcycles assaulted anti-police violence protesters with whips and clubs. Eyewitnesses and reporters suggested the attackers operated under police protection, with some claiming they were hired by local authorities.
Saba Saba Day—observed each July 7—marks the historic 1990 demonstrations that catalyzed Kenya’s shift toward multiparty democracy. However, this year’s commemoration unfolds against a backdrop of deteriorating civil liberties, raising fears of democratic backsliding.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission has condemned the Sunday attack, calling it “an alarming indication of growing impunity” and “a blatant attempt to silence dissent in a constitutional democracy.”
Despite increased security presence across major cities, activists and civil society groups have vowed to proceed with peaceful marches and public forums to honour the legacy of Saba Saba and demand government accountability.
As Kenyans brace for another day of nationwide demonstrations, many are questioning whether the state will uphold the freedoms of assembly, expression, and protest enshrined in the constitution—or continue its violent crackdown on civic space.
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