NAIROBI, Kenya – South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has launched a blistering attack on President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of violently suppressing peaceful protesters, curbing media freedoms, and entrenching authoritarian rule in Kenya.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Julius Malema-led party declared its “full solidarity with the youth of Kenya,” who poured into the streets this week to commemorate the first anniversary of the June 25, 2024 protests against the now-infamous Finance Bill.
“What began as a rejection of economic injustice has now grown into a widespread demand for an end to state corruption, police brutality, and impunity at the highest levels of government,” the EFF said.
The South African opposition party condemned what it called “state-sponsored violence and censorship,” saying the Ruto administration has responded to the Gen Z-led movement with “live bullets, rubber bullets, savage beatings, and media blackouts.”
The EFF’s Statement Condemning the Kenyan Government’s Censorship of Media and Repression of Youth Protests-What began as a rejection of economic injustice has now grown into a widespread demand for an end to state corruption, police brutality, and impunity at the highest
Citing figures from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the EFF said at least eight people were killed and over 400 injured during Wednesday’s protests, including journalists and police officers.
The party also condemned the recent move by the Communications Authority of Kenya to shut down live TV broadcasts of the protests, a decision temporarily overturned by a Nairobi court.
“This is a deliberate misreading of the Constitution,” the statement said. “It is an attempt to control the narrative, hide its crimes, and rule by fear.”
The EFF, known for its pan-Africanist stance and vocal criticism of what it terms Western-aligned leadership on the continent, accused Ruto of failing to uphold the dignity of his office.
“President Ruto has shown that he is unwilling to lead with dignity,” the party declared. “This is a generation that refuses to bow, refuses to be silenced, and refuses to accept a future stolen by corrupt elites.”
The party called for an immediate end to state violence, the restoration of media freedom, and accountability for all deaths and injuries resulting from the protests.
“The world is watching, and Africa is watching,” the EFF warned.
This is not the first time the EFF has criticized President Ruto. Over the past year, the party has taken repeated aim at what it calls Kenya’s “neoliberal subservience to Western institutions” and Ruto’s approach to domestic dissent, portraying it as out of step with the continent’s growing demands for social and economic justice.
The EFF’s comments add to a growing chorus of international concern over Kenya’s handling of civil unrest, including statements from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and several local organizations, who have raised alarm over the rising body count, shrinking civic space, and aggressive policing tactics.
