An armed group stormed the headquarters of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in Nairobi on Sunday, disrupting a press conference and escalating tensions ahead of the country’s annual Saba Saba Day commemorations.
The attack, carried out by individuals wielding clubs and sticks, came just hours before Kenyans prepared to mark the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba protests, a pivotal moment in the country’s fight for multi-party democracy.
The assailants broke through a locked entrance, threatened participants, and stole valuable equipment including computers and a sound system.
Witnesses say the attackers accused those present of inciting unrest.
“This is nothing more than a strategy to intimidate and silence civil society,” said a representative of the Women’s Collective, one of the event’s co-organisers.
The assault is the latest in a wave of incidents that have raised alarms about shrinking civic space and growing authoritarianism in Kenya.
Over the past month, protests against President William Ruto’s administration—sparked by a widely opposed finance bill and allegations of entrenched corruption—have been met with deadly force.
On June 25, demonstrations culminated in the storming of Parliament, resulting in 19 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Human rights organisations have accused security forces of colluding with armed militias, often referred to locally as “goons,” to suppress the protests.
There have been multiple reports of men on motorcycles, armed with whips and sticks, attacking demonstrators under the watch of police.
In its statement following the KHRC attack, the United Nations expressed concern over the “excessive use of force” and growing repression of dissent in Kenya.
Analysts warn that such tactics are reviving memories of the Daniel arap Moi era, when opposition voices were systematically crushed.
“Today’s Kenyans are more informed, more connected, and less willing to accept repression,” said political analyst Gabrielle Lynch.
“But the government’s actions suggest it is sliding back into dangerous territory.”
As Saba Saba Day commemorates a hard-won chapter in Kenya’s democratic journey, the violent raid on the KHRC has become a powerful symbol of the renewed struggle for civil liberties in the country.
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