In a statement on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said freedom of assembly and expression under Kenya’s constitution were “paramount.”
The remarks were made against the backdrop of long-running protests in Kenya that brought commercial and economic activities in the country to a near standstill for almost six weeks.
In a conversation with Kenyan President William Ruto, Blinken “underscored the importance of freedoms of assembly and expression as enshrined in Kenyan’s constitution, emphasised the vital role played by youth and civil society organisations in healthy democracies, and urged respect for their contributions to Kenya’s development,” the statement noted.
The protest in Kenya started with a controversial Finance Bill that was presented on June 18, which proposed new taxes on several essential commodities, among them cars, phones, and bread.
The suggested new taxes led to reactions and massive demonstrations nationwide.
This is after the Kenyan police had earlier banned protests in the capital city, Nairobi, citing violence as evidence.
After a court ruling, it emerged that citizens’ constitutional right to protest could not be scrapped. Protests have turned deadly, at least with 50 civilians reported killed as police used excessive force to disperse demonstrators.
The United States reminder of freedoms enshrined in the Constitution views this as a call for restraint and respect for democratic principles amidst the turmoil.
In his statement, Blinken spoke to the role of a vibrant civil society in working democracies and urged the Kenyan government to recognise — with respect — its input.
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