The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has strongly condemned the deportation of its senior legal advisor Martin Mavenjina, terming it a targeted assault on civil society and an attempt by President William Ruto’s government to silence dissenting voices.

In a statement on Sunday, KHRC said Mavenjina was deported to Uganda on Saturday night shortly after landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 10:00 pm from an official mission in South Africa, despite holding a valid work permit.

“Our staff member, Martin Mavenjina, has been deported to Uganda. He had arrived in Kenya at 10 pm on Saturday following an official visit to South Africa. Mavenjina holds a valid work permit,” the commission said.

The commission linked the move to a broader pattern of repression allegedly being directed at human rights defenders and civic actors, particularly in the wake of recent anti-government protests.

“Since June 25, the William Ruto regime has been deliberately targeting human rights defenders, and Mavenjina’s deportation is part of their strategy,” KHRC stated.

The commission said it is actively working to ensure Mavenjina is brought back to the country.
“We are working to bring Mavenjina back to Kenya,” it added.

The government has yet to comment on the deportation or respond to the allegations raised by the commission.

The Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF) also condemned the deportation, describing it as unlawful and politically motivated. It said the move violated not only Kenyan law but also Kenya’s commitments under the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

Citing Articles 6(d) and 7(2) of the EAC Treaty, which commit member states to uphold democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, CFF accused the government of escalating repression against civil society.

“This blatant act of repression by the Kenyan government under the William Ruto administration is part of an escalating and disturbing trend targeting human rights defenders and civil society actors since June 25,” the Forum said.

CFF called for the immediate and unconditional return of Mavenjina, urging authorities to end what it described as a pattern of harassment and threats against civic actors.

“We demand the immediate reversal of this deportation, and the unconditional facilitation of Martin Mavenjina’s return to Kenya,” it said.

“We further call on the Government of Kenya to cease the ongoing intimidation, harassment, and targeting of human rights defenders and to uphold its national, regional, and international human rights obligations.”

The Forum also expressed solidarity with KHRC and others working to protect civic space, declaring its firm stance against the criminalization of human rights work in Kenya and the East African region.