US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Kenyan President William Ruto Discussed Recent Protests and Police Conduct in High-Level Phone Call.
On Thursday, a significant diplomatic exchange took place between the United States and Kenya as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in a telephone conversation with Kenyan President William Ruto.
The call, as reported by the Office of the US Secretary of State, primarily focused on the recent Gen Z-led protests in Kenya and the subsequent police response, which has drawn international attention.
Freedom to Protest
The discussion highlighted the US government’s concern over the preservation of fundamental democratic rights in Kenya. Secretary Blinken emphasized the critical importance of upholding the freedom to protest, a right enshrined in Kenya’s constitution.
The conversation also touched on the vital role of Kenya’s youth and civil society organizations in fostering a healthy democracy. The official statement noted,
“The Secretary underscored the importance of freedoms of assembly and expression as enshrined in Kenya’s constitution, emphasized the vital role played by youth and civil society organizations in healthy democracies, and urged respect for their contributions to Kenya’s development.”
The timing of this high-level communication is particularly noteworthy, coming shortly after the Kenyan government accused the US-based Ford Foundation of financially supporting the anti-government demonstrations. The foundation has since refuted these allegations, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Police Conduct During the Protests
During the call, President Ruto reportedly made commitments to address the concerns raised about police conduct during the protests. The US statement praised this stance:
“The Secretary commended President Ruto for his pledge of accountability for security forces allegedly involved in protest violence or responsible for disappearances and his commitment to direct police to refrain from using violence of any kind against protesters.”
This pledge comes in response to serious accusations against Kenyan police, including arbitrary arrests, abductions, and alleged torture of individuals in custody. These allegations have raised significant human rights concerns both domestically and internationally.
The conversation between Blinken and Ruto also ventured into other areas of mutual interest, notably Kenya’s involvement in the multinational security support mission to Haiti. The US expressed its gratitude for Kenya’s contributions to this effort and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the mission.
Concluding the call, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ support for Kenya’s democratic journey. The statement concluded,
“The Secretary reiterated that the United States stands with the Kenyan people as they build a more inclusive and prosperous Kenya.”
