The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has accused Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of presiding over intimidation and harassment targeting Otsieno Namwaya, a senior official at Human Rights Watch.
According to KHRC, Namwaya’s home was raided between August 23 and 25 by a team of police officers believed to be from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The officers reportedly kept him under surveillance and even attempted to reach him through his close associates in the weeks leading to the raid.
Namwaya, who has worked as the Associate Africa Director at Human Rights Watch for over a decade, is known for documenting police excesses and exposing cases of state abuse.
KHRC condemned the actions against him, describing them as a direct attack on Kenya’s Constitution and a dangerous attempt to silence dissenting voices.
“This brazen act of intimidation against a human rights defender is unacceptable. The Inspector General must order an end to surveillance and harassment immediately,” KHRC stated.
The lobby group also called on President William Ruto’s administration to safeguard all human rights defenders, warning that persecution only fuels impunity rather than stopping the fight for justice.
Namwaya’s case comes at a time when concerns are growing about shrinking civic space in Kenya, with activists and journalists reporting increased targeting by security agencies.
KHRC insisted that standing up for rights is not a crime and urged authorities to respect fundamental freedoms.
By Creatorhub