The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has condemned raid on various offices belonging to human activists.
KHRC on Thursday, July 27 noted that the series of attacks have occurred within a short period adding that they were not random occurrences.
“These series of attacks, occurring within a short span of one month, were not random occurrences,” KHRC stated.
According to the human rights body, the raids are deliberate attempts to weaken institutions that showed courage to question the government.
“Rather, they were deliberate strategies and precise assaults designed to weaken the institutions that had the audacity to question or confront this oppressive regime,” the statement reads in part.
Similarly, KHRC stated that the raids and attacks on human rights activists are a horrifying illustration of the extent authorities can go to silence any form of opposition.
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The human rights body further highlighted that they will not be intimidated while seeking accountability, transparency, and justice from the current regime.
“We will not be intimidated; instead, we are stronger and more resolute in our pursuit of demanding accountability, transparency, and justice from this regime,” KHRC noted.
“We shall continue to expose their malfeasance and malice,” reads the Thursday morning statement.
Human Rights Activists Offices Raided
Nonetheless, the sentiments by the Kenya Human Rights Commission come following the recent raids reported by two activists including Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and Midrift Hurinet in Nakuru.
KHRC noted that the two offices suffered a similar fate because they were engaged in holding the President William Ruto-led administration accountable.
Senator Omtatah’s Office Raid
Unknown people raided Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah’s office on Friday, July 21 night and made away with electronic devices.
The Busia Senator noted that he had reported the matter to the police, but the law enforcement officers were yet to find any leads on the raid.
Moreover, the activist cum politician said it is unclear whether the raid is linked to his stand on Finance Act 2023 or just a case of ordinary burglars.
Senator Omtatah filed a petition seeking to have the Finance Act 2023 annulled arguing some of its provisions are illegal.
As a result, the Court suspended the implementation of the Finance Act 2023 awaiting hearing and determination of the case.
Midrift Hurinet’s Office Raid
Unknown people raided Midrift Human Rights Network (Hurinet) offices in Nakuru on Wednesday, July 26 and made away with items worth Ksh.700,000.
Midrift Hurinet Executive Director Joseph Omondi, while addressing the press, confirmed the incident stating that they lost 4 laptops, a hard disk containing a lot of data, 4 cameras and other items worth Ksh.700,000.
He stated that they have already reported the matter to the DCI and investigations are ongoing.
“We think this might have been a targeted attack, we don’t know whether it state or non-state actors who did it.” Omondi stated.
Furthermore, the Midrift boss said they are not ruling out anything even as they wait for police to conduct investigations.
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“They really ransacked my office, and only raided offices labelled Midrift Hurinet,” he added.
Mr. Omondi claimed the government does not like being criticized, adding that the strategy used in both attacks is to slow them down or to issue a warning.
“We have to be honest; we have a very paranoid government with a very weird ego, and they don’t like being criticized, their most big challenge so maybe that is why Omtatah’s office was attacked.
KHRC also mentioned the case where police officers allegedly torched the Nyando Social Justice Center in Kisumu when they lobbed teargas canisters that sparked flames a week ago.
