The Kenyan government has issued a strong diplomatic response to a joint statement by 12 foreign missions urging restraint and accountability ahead of nationwide protests set for Wednesday, June 26.
In a note dated June 24, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs addressed concerns raised by envoys from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. These diplomats had publicly called for peaceful demonstrations and criticized security tactics used during last year’s protests, which turned deadly and drew widespread condemnation.
While reaffirming the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and free expression, the ministry stressed these freedoms must be exercised “peacefully, within the law and with full regard for the rights of others.” It further stated that the responsibility to safeguard democracy, lives, and property “lies squarely with the State” and must be exercised with “restraint, legality, and care.”
The foreign missions had raised alarm over the use of plainclothes police in unmarked vehicles—tactics the High Court has ruled unlawful. They also called for independent investigations into any violence during protests and condemned reports of hired groups infiltrating peaceful gatherings.
In its response, the government warned against what it termed potential “interference in domestic political affairs,” urging all diplomats to adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits interference in internal matters of host states. The ministry also urged that any concerns be communicated through formal diplomatic channels rather than public statements.
Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to democratic governance, calling its journey “complex and continuous,” and noted that policing operations are subject to oversight by Parliament, the Judiciary, and other constitutional bodies.
The planned protests commemorate the anniversary of last year’s deadly demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill, which introduced controversial tax hikes. Independent reports documented over 60 deaths, though the government reported 42.
With rising political tensions and protests expected across major cities, Wednesday represents a key test of Kenya’s ability to balance public order with the protection of civil liberties amid both domestic and international scrutiny.
