Opposition accuses Ruto gov't of state repression and rights abuses

United Opposition leaders have issued a strong condemnation of the government, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of orchestrating a brutal crackdown on dissent and steering the country into dangerous authoritarianism.

In a detailed statement, the coalition pointed to a pattern of human rights violations, including abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and disruption of peaceful political assemblies.

The most recent and alarming case is the abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi, who was reportedly taken by unidentified individuals, tortured, and later found dumped in a coffee plantation, severely injured.

They describe the incident not as isolated, but part of a broader campaign aimed at silencing opposition voices.

The coalition, made of notable leaders including Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka and former Public Service CS Justin Muturi, claim that across the country, their events have been violently disrupted, with tents torn down, sound equipment destroyed, and supporters assaulted.

In Kakamega, a peaceful political meeting descended into chaos after police used live ammunition to disperse attendees.

Similar brutality was reported in Bungoma, where residents protesting the grabbing of Nzoia Sugar Company land were met with excessive force.

From Busia to Kisumu, Nairobi to Nyeri, opposition leaders say a dangerous culture of impunity has taken root, where criminal gangs are allegedly mobilized to attack gatherings with the backing or outright involvement of security officers.

They call this a deliberate strategy of intimidation, warning that the country is witnessing the rise of state-sponsored political terrorism.

Also highlighted was the recent killing of two Catholic priests, Fathers John Maina and Aloise Bett, who had hosted opposition figures at their church.

The deaths have sparked outrage within the clergy and civil society, with the opposition demanding swift investigations and justice.

The coalition expressed solidarity with the Catholic Church and described the killings as a signal that no space is safe from state aggression.

The statement did not spare the private sector. Safaricom and other telecom providers were called out for allegedly enabling illegal surveillance and abductions by sharing user data with security agencies.

The opposition demanded transparency and accountability, urging telcos to publicly clarify the extent of their cooperation with the state and reaffirm their commitment to protecting the rights and privacy of their customers.

Political and business elites accused of financing chaos and lobbying for the preservation of what the opposition called a "repressive regime" were also put on notice.

The coalition warned diplomats who remain silent as the situation deteriorates that history would remember their complicity.

To the Kenyan people, the message was one of defiance and hope. The opposition called on citizens, civil society organizations, religious institutions, and international partners to stand together in defending democracy.

They laid out four immediate demands: an end to politically motivated violence and abductions, accountability for telcos involved in surveillance, a halt to state-backed disruptions of peaceful gatherings, and the full protection of constitutional rights.

In a direct message to President Ruto, the coalition warned that crimes against humanity including abductions, torture, enforced disappearances, murder, and gender-based violence are prosecutable, and that no office or title can shield anyone from justice.

The statement ended with a solemn reminder: when peaceful voices are silenced, the very soul of the nation is at risk.