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Finance Bill: African Union urges Kenya to respect protesters rights, release detainees

#OccupyParliament protestors outside the Nation Centre in Nairobi CBD on June 18, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki/EV)

By Mwangi Maina | Wednesday, June 19, 2024

The statement urged the Kenyan government to engage with all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, community leaders, and the affected populations, to address these concerns.

The African Union has reminded the Kenyan government that "peaceful protest is protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights" and urged it to explore "alternative measures to alleviate the financial burden on ordinary citizens."

The African Union Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has also called on President William Ruto's government to immediately release "individuals arrested for participating in peaceful protests, with utmost respect for due process of the law under Article 7 of the African Charter."

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, the day of the protests, the body's Country Rapporteur on Human Rights in Kenya, Solomon Ayele Dersso, expressed concern over recent developments related to a proposed tax bill in Kenya.

"The African Commission is concerned that the protests on June 18 have led to the arrest of over 300 individuals and underscores that peaceful protest is protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter)," the statement said.

"The African Commission reminds the Government of Kenya that when adopting such measures that would directly affect the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens, most notably the most vulnerable sections of society, it is a pre-requisite that affected people are adequately consulted and their concerns are adequately addressed to ensure that such measures are in compliance with the African Charter," it added.

The statement urged the Kenyan government to engage with all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, community leaders, and the affected populations, to address these concerns.

"A participatory approach is crucial to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and considered in policy-making processes," the statement said.