By Jabali Digital
Members of the United Opposition have called out President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza regime, for embracing human rights violations, as its modus operandi against critics.
The opposition figureheads; Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi, Eugene Wamalwa, Saitoti Torome and Mithika Linturi in a joint statement on Tuesday said they are gravely alarmed by the heightened repression, lawlessness, and political persecution, being perpetuated by Ruto’s administration.
“Despite our persistent calls to end arbitrary arrests, abductions, gross violations of human rights and extrajudicial killings, Ruto’s administration seems to be on a race to the bottom - to anarchy,” they voiced their concern.
They expressed shock at the bold and shameless abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi, who was forcefully taken by unidentified assailants on Sunday, only to be later found tortured and dumped in a coffee plantation, fighting for his life.
“This horrifying incident is not isolated—it is part of a chilling trend where elected leaders and citizens aligned with the opposition are being systematically targeted to silence dissent,” the leaders said.
They gave an example of what happened in Kakamega over the weekend, during the ‘homecoming’ of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) interim deputy leader Cleophas Malala.
Kalonzo, Karua and co said what was meant to be a peaceful political gathering quickly turned into a warzone, as police deployed excessive force, including live ammunition, to disperse opposition supporters.
“A few days before the same cruel pattern faced innocent citizens in Bungoma protesting the grabbing of Nzoia Sugar Company. This use of disproportionate force on unarmed civilians is not only unlawful but represents a dangerous erosion of the right to assemble, as enshrined in Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya.”
Juja MP George Koimburi in hospital. Photo/Courtesy
Under the same breadth, they condemned in the strongest terms possible the murder of two Catholic Priests namely Fathers John Maina and Aloise Bett, who had hosted the opposition leaders.
They urged Kenyans to back them in their demand for an immediate cessation of all politically motivated violence, abductions and extrajudicial killings, an end to state-backed disruption of peaceful political assemblies and the he protection of constitutional rights, including the freedom of assembly, association, expression, and political participation.