Published by the Standard on 27th January 2025 page 14
Published by the Daily Nation on 25th January 2025 page 14
In his 1977 album, the Exodus, the revolutionary poetic music maestro, Bob Marley of the Wailers troupe wails thus, “we neither beg nor we won’t bow.” This should give Kenya an impetus towards a renewed vigor for a call towards upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights. The exodus from the hurting human rights violations witnessed in the past year or so should be a desire for everyone. We must forge a new chapter of hope and respect of everybody’s rights to exist and partake in the sharing of the national fruits we all deserve.
The year 2024 registered a malodorous chapter of serious human rights violations, some bordering on international crimes. It will forever be remembered that in June of that year, what started as a noble call for good governance and respect for human rights of Kenyans had to be stifled with a callous and disgusting strategy of trailing, illegal arrests, abductions, incommunicado detention and some stillbirth prosecutions. These was preceded by gruesome response to legal and procedural protests led by the tribe-less, leaderless and a united Gen-Z front.
While it is a universal right embedded in article 37 of our constitution to participate in protests whether planed or spontaneous, it shocked the world to see marksmen pointing gun muzzles to innocent and unharmed youth who only wanted reforms and justice. Has uprising against bad governance and oppression ever been suppressed by oppression? Never, it only reignites the embers and desires to demand what is just and right.
Regrettably, many innocent and harmless Kenyans died and the documentation by credible organizations like the respected Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Amnesty International. In a shocking revelation, KNCHR noted in November 2024 that the sanctity of the right to life was at stake with 82 abductions and 60 deaths due to efforts by Kenyans and mainly the youth to exercise their rights and freedoms to assembly and protest. It is also despicable that at least 448 deaths in relation to the infamous Shakahola cult related Massacre were recorded and equally painful, 97 femicide deaths were also recorded. This borders on savagery and no civilized society should ever be associated with such. Suppression of activists and human rights defenders, including digital activists was a new front that needs to be completely stopped in 2025. The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya (NCHRD-K) noted that suppression of human rights defenders was a major violation and this should be stopped forthwith.
The political elite and their cronies must stop further fueling of the state of pain and human right violations. It only worsens the situation when some political luminaries blame victims of repression and mock those who call for accountability. Making jokes on families, friends and supporters of victims of human rights violations is detestable and uncalled for as was witnessed after reports of youthful activists who were reportedly abducted. We must be loud enough in calling out excesses especially by the law enforcement officers. Everybody must be accountable, but the rule of law is supreme.
The basic needs as assured in article 43 of our sanctified constitution has become a far distant dream for majority of Kenyans. We can ease the pain in 2025. This can be directly attributed to high cost of production and high taxations. With fuel used to manufacture and transport labor, goods and essentials too high compared to our neighboring countries, some which don’t enjoy seaports to Kenya and irrational taxation of goods has pushed many producers to shift out of the country and others to ship out of business. Poor Kenyans have sought jobs out of the country outside the country especially in the Middle East countries leading to shocking reports of torture, maltreatment, slavery and worse, deaths. Honestly if Kenyans can’t afford basic meals, basic medicare, basic education and basic services, it can only make one believe that if some policies are not reviewed, 2025 may just remain another cycle of poverty and pain for Kenyans.
Corruption like a cancerous and jest propelled squid sticks its tentacles in all public and private sectors injecting insolence to deny people what they deserve. With a constitutionally mandated constitutional body, a dedicated anticorruption court and a population that according to official statistics boasts of over 90% religious population, why is hard to understand that corruption has occasioned denial of rights in hospitals, schools, and public infrastructure through stealing of funds meant for public services? It started with stealing coins to thousands, millions and as at 2024 the language was loss of billions in numerous instances. Kenyans, stop it. It dehumanizes and the end result of corruption is that it hurts and kills innocent people who deserve services.
In the last year or so, protection against environmental degradation and denial to enjoy safe surroundings has only gotten worse. Mutilation of forests, including the once bitterly protected Karura forest by our celebrated environmentalist and Nobel laureate, Wangari Maathai is just a painful sight to behold. Encroachment of water sources and rivers, directing toxic and cancerous waste to rivers including Nairobi River will only worsen if we fasten our efforts in 2005. We must depoliticize, adequately fund and support the Nairobi Rivers Commission to deal with this matter. Environmental dignity must be restored.
Lastly, in their collective wisdom and consideration by the team of experts, Kenyans found it fit and importantly so, to have chapter four of the constitution, the Bill of Rights the most elaborate chapter in the respected document. There is a reason why human rights are universal and inalienable and therefore must be applied and respected without prejudice. While its Paris principle to ensure that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) must be supported and adequately financed and facilitated to effectively drive this striking constitutional mandate, that principle can only be seen to be effective if the political leadership adequately facilitated and upscale funding for the bodies mandated to promote and protect human right in Kenya including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC). It is only through this that the march to advocate for reforms and a better human rights environment for Kenya in 2005 would begin.
Above all, all Kenyans must light the human rights torch and keep it aflame in 2005 and beyond.
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