NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s united opposition leaders have issued a scathing condemnation of President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of a mounting campaign of repression, political violence, and state-sponsored intimidation aimed at silencing dissent.
In a statement released Tuesday, the coalition—led by Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi, Eugene Wamalwa, Saitoti Torome, and Mithika Linturi—cited a string of recent incidents they claim reflect an alarming descent into “anarchy and political persecution.”
The most high-profile incident, they said, was the abduction and torture of Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi.
Koimburi was reportedly taken by unidentified individuals on Sunday and later found badly injured in a coffee plantation, an act the opposition characterized as “brazen” and “chilling.”
“This horrifying incident is not isolated,” the statement read. “It is part of a disturbing pattern where elected leaders and citizens aligned with the opposition are being systematically targeted.”
The opposition also alleged violent crackdowns by police during political gatherings in Kakamega and Bungoma, where protests over alleged state corruption and land grabbing reportedly turned chaotic after what they described as excessive use of force by security forces.
Citing Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, the leaders accused the state of violating both national and international human rights laws—including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
They further pointed to the killing of two Catholic priests—Fathers John Maina and Aloise Bett—who they said had hosted opposition figures shortly before their deaths.
The opposition also raised concerns over the alleged role of private sector actors in the state’s crackdown, singling out telecoms provider Safaricom.
They claimed the company may have enabled state surveillance, leading to abductions and illegal tracking of citizens.
“Safaricom must account for the data it provides to security agencies,” the opposition demanded, urging the company to affirm its commitment to consumer privacy.
The statement ended with a call to action for civil society, religious leaders, and the international community to “stand in solidarity” with Kenyans and hold the government accountable.
The opposition warned that unless urgent action is taken, the country risks sliding further into authoritarianism.
“This is not a partisan issue,” they declared. “It is a national emergency.”
