- During her trip in the country, Zeya met Ruto, National Security Advisor Monica Juma, Chief Justice Martha Koome and senior officials from the Interior Ministry.
- Zeya said she had engaged top government officials over the security agencies’ conduct to register her concerns.
Image: HANDOUT
The US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya concluded her visit to Kenya with a condemnation on police in their actions against anti-government protesters.
Zeya demanded restraint from police when dealing with peaceful protesters as country expects fresh round of demonstrations on Thursday.
She also insisted free and independent media are indispensable to thriving democracies.
Zeya said she had engaged top government officials over the security agencies’ conduct to register her concerns.
“In my discussions with President Ruto and senior Kenyan officials, I condemned violence committed against peaceful protestors, human rights defenders and journalists and urged protection of the fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression as enshrined in Kenya's constitution.”
Zeya spoke at the US Embassy in Nairobi at the conclusion of her trip to Kenya.
“I also underscored the critical importance of security forces exercising restraint, rejecting violence in all its forms, and prompt investigations of and accountability for disappearances, excessive use of force, and other human rights abuses,” she said.
Zeya said it was her first visit to Kenya and a time when the country is experiencing youth-led protests over among other issues, graft.
She called for accountability in the incidents and those responsible to be prosecuted.
During her trip in the country, Zeya met Ruto, National Security Advisor Dr Monica Juma, Chief Justice Martha Koome and senior officials from the Interior Ministry, law enforcement and anti-corruption sectors.
The institutions include Independent Policing Oversight Authority, DCI and EACC.
Zeya said she also heard from and engaged Kenya's vibrant civil society, including young changemakers and democratic reformers, working to advance a better future for all Kenyans.
“As President Biden declared in welcoming President Ruto to Washington for his historic state visit, our two nations have shared responsibility to meet together as partners - for security, for prosperity, for innovation, and most importantly, for democracy.
“That common cause and impetus is what brought me to Kenya, with three overarching goals: first, to strengthen our partnership in support of democratic reform and rights-respecting civilian security; second, to deepen our collaboration on shared regional and global challenges and third, to expand our humanitarian cooperation to supportmarginalized and vulnerable populations,” she said.
She said her visit comes at a challenging moment for Kenyan democracy after the government response to youth-led protests took many innocent lives.
Human rights organisations say over 60 people have been killed in the protests and more than 400 injured while more than 60 people are missing.
More protests dubbed Nane Nane have been called for August 8.
“I extend my deepest condolences for allloss of life and sympathies to those injured.”
Zeya said she welcomed government steps to address the root causes of protesters'concerns, strengthen public trust and take further action to embrace dialogue and national reconciliation.
“Democracy requires constant work and as we acknowledge the progress that Kenya has made, we must also recognise the work that remains to be done in terms of police accountability and human-centeredsecurity.
“To this end, I encouraged President Ruto to take concrete action on his recent public pledges to strengthen rule of law, champion anti-corruption initiatives and advance accountability within his own government,” she said.
On all of these complex issue sets, Zeya added, Kenyan civil society has vital contributions to make.
She said the United States is deeply appreciative of Kenya's active leadership in addressing conflict across the African continent and around the world including Northern Ethiopia, Eastern DRC and South Sudan to recent efforts combating al Shabaab extremists in Somalia.
She also welcomed Kenya's leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti.
“This vital effort, for which we are contributing $300 million in U.S. logistics, equipment and materiel support, will help bring much-needed relief to the Haitian people.”
Zeya said she also emphasised with Kenyan counterparts their longstanding partnership in supporting refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable populations in need.
“As the fifth largest refugee host on the African continent, Kenya plays an immense and generous role hostinghundreds of thousands of vulnerable people fleeing conflict and persecution.
“We welcome and recognise Kenya's efforts to promote the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees, including the innovative Shirika Plan to transition refugee camps into integrated settlements,” she said.
The US provided more than $306 million in humanitarian assistance across Kenya, including nearly $55 million specifically for refugee response, she revealed.
“We also appreciate Kenya's partnership in helping us reach our target of resettling a record number of refugees from the African continent by the end of this fiscal year — one more example of how deepercooperation benefits both our societies.”
The Under Secretary said the US stands ready to deepen cooperation with the Kenyan people and government to help the countries’ democracies meet the moment and deliver for their citizens, the region and the world.