Dr. Kinity: Gachagua, Kindiki and IG Must Be Included in Trump-Led Probe Over Kenya Protest Killings
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Kenyan human rights activist Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity has called on United States President Donald Trump to expand his administration’s ongoing probe into human rights violations in Kenya by including top officials responsible for internal security.
Dr. Kinity is demanding that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome be investigated for their alleged roles in the killings and abductions of Kenyan protesters during the March and June 2024 demonstrations.
The protests, which were largely led by young Kenyans under the banner of Generation Z, erupted in opposition to unpopular tax policies and perceived state corruption. While the demonstrations began peacefully, they were met with violent crackdowns from security forces.
Scores of protesters were killed, and many others were abducted in incidents that have drawn sharp criticism from local and international human rights groups.
According to a report by Nation, the Trump administration has launched investigations into the conduct of Kenyan officials, following allegations that some may have links to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and could be responsible for orchestrating abductions and extrajudicial killings during the protests.
Dr. Kinity argues that for the investigation to be meaningful and just, it must target not only junior officers or shadowy operatives, but also the senior officials who were constitutionally in charge of the country’s internal security at the time of the atrocities.
In March 2024, when some of the worst killings and abductions took place, President William Ruto was not in the country. He was in Zanzibar, Tanzania, where he met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for a regional summit on East African Community matters.
Dr. Kinity notes that in Ruto’s absence, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua assumed the role of Acting President, as provided for by the Kenyan Constitution.
“In internal security matters, there is a clear chain of command. The President is at the top, followed by the Deputy President, then the Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security, and then the Inspector General of Police. When Ruto was out of the country, Gachagua was the Acting President. That means the responsibility falls squarely on him during that time,” Dr. Kinity said.
The demonstrations in March were marred by widespread violence. Videos and eyewitness accounts documented the brutal dispersal of protesters in Nairobi and other cities.
One of the most alarming incidents involved former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose vehicle was shot at multiple times during a protest. Odinga has since told the media that it was an assassination attempt.
“My vehicle was sprayed with live bullets. Seven of them were aimed directly at me,” Raila said in a statement carried by local media outlets including The Star and Citizen TV.
Dr. Kinity believes this incident, along with other targeted attacks and abductions, demonstrates a deliberate and organized use of force that must have been sanctioned by senior figures within the government. He emphasized that Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and IG Japhet Koome must also be subjected to a full investigation.
He is also urging the Trump administration to investigate the June 2024 wave of abductions and killings, which followed renewed protests by youth across the country. “This was not an isolated incident. The pattern repeated itself. It means the system was either complicit or negligent,” he said.
Dr. Kinity rejected any narrative that excuses those in power on the basis of following orders or being absent from specific operational scenes.
“There must be no excuse for committing a crime, or for failing to stop one when you are in authority. Saying one was following orders is not a defense. If such excuses are entertained, then no one will be held accountable, and the entire investigation will be rendered meaningless,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the investigation must be impartial and must not be clouded by tribal or political affiliations. He called on Kenyans and the international community to support efforts aimed at holding all those responsible accountable.
“We must reject tribalism and political loyalty in justice. Let those who are suspected of wrongdoing be investigated. If they are innocent, they will be exonerated. If they are guilty, they must face the consequences,” he said.
Dr. Kinity, who is the chairman of the Kikimo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication and a former Secretary General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union, has a long history of advocating for justice and human rights in Kenya.
His latest call underscores growing demands from citizens and civil society for accountability following the bloodshed witnessed during the 2024 protests..
With a knack for captivating storytelling, Amos Lumbasi has a talent for crafting narratives that resonate with readers. He combines meticulous research with a captivating writing style to create articles that are both informative and enjoyable to read.
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