NAIROBI, Kenya – Police in Nairobi teargassed and forcibly dispersed peaceful demonstrators on Tuesday as women’s rights activists and allies marched against femicide and gender-based violence (GBV).
The protest marked the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, a global campaign to end violence against women and girls.
The demonstration, which brought together human rights defenders, women’s groups, and allies, aimed to raise awareness about rising cases of femicide in Kenya.
However, chaos erupted as police used tear gas on the crowd, leading to several arrests, including Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director, Houghton Irungu.
Video footage widely shared on social media shows Irungu being detained by plainclothes officers and bundled into a police vehicle as protesters voiced outrage.
Amnesty International condemned the police response, calling it a “grave violation” of fundamental human rights.
“On this International Human Rights Day, a day dedicated to celebrating and upholding the dignity, freedom, and rights of all people, we witnessed a blatant disregard for these principles,” the organization said in a statement.
“Peaceful protesters in Nairobi, predominantly women, were teargassed, violently dispersed, and unlawfully arrested by police,” the statement added, calling for the immediate release of all detained individuals.
The 16 Days of Activism, running annually from November 25 to December 10, seeks to amplify calls to end violence against women worldwide.
This year, the focus has been particularly urgent in Kenya, where femicide and GBV remain prevalent.
Rights organizations have repeatedly sounded the alarm, urging authorities to take decisive action against perpetrators.
Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo also criticized the police crackdown, describing it as an unacceptable attack on peaceful demonstrators.
“There is absolutely no justification for arresting or interfering with Kenyans agitating for the protection of women, especially when femicide is a national crisis,” she said.
Odhiambo further called on law enforcement to prioritize tackling GBV instead of “perpetuating violence,” voicing support for those demanding change.
Tuesday’s events underscore the tension between Kenyan civil society and law enforcement amid growing frustration over the government’s perceived inaction on gender violence.
Activists argue that femicide cases are often underreported or inadequately addressed, leaving survivors and victims’ families without justice.
The protest marked the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, a global campaign to end violence against women and girls.
The demonstration, which brought together human rights defenders, women’s groups, and allies, aimed to raise awareness about rising cases of femicide in Kenya.
However, chaos erupted as police used tear gas on the crowd, leading to several arrests, including Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director, Houghton Irungu.
Video footage widely shared on social media shows Irungu being detained by plainclothes officers and bundled into a police vehicle as protesters voiced outrage.
Amnesty International condemned the police response, calling it a “grave violation” of fundamental human rights.
“On this International Human Rights Day, a day dedicated to celebrating and upholding the dignity, freedom, and rights of all people, we witnessed a blatant disregard for these principles,” the organization said in a statement.
“Peaceful protesters in Nairobi, predominantly women, were teargassed, violently dispersed, and unlawfully arrested by police,” the statement added, calling for the immediate release of all detained individuals.
The 16 Days of Activism, running annually from November 25 to December 10, seeks to amplify calls to end violence against women worldwide.
This year, the focus has been particularly urgent in Kenya, where femicide and GBV remain prevalent.
Rights organizations have repeatedly sounded the alarm, urging authorities to take decisive action against perpetrators.
Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo also criticized the police crackdown, describing it as an unacceptable attack on peaceful demonstrators.
“There is absolutely no justification for arresting or interfering with Kenyans agitating for the protection of women, especially when femicide is a national crisis,” she said.
Odhiambo further called on law enforcement to prioritize tackling GBV instead of “perpetuating violence,” voicing support for those demanding change.
Tuesday’s events underscore the tension between Kenyan civil society and law enforcement amid growing frustration over the government’s perceived inaction on gender violence.
Activists argue that femicide cases are often underreported or inadequately addressed, leaving survivors and victims’ families without justice.
