Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina, a close ally of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump to intervene over what she described as persistent government harassment and brutality against Kenyan youths.
Speaking during a public forum in Seattle, USA, on Wednesday evening, Maina said that increasing cases of police violence and unlawful arrests during protests demanded international attention.
She called on the U.S. government, Congress, and global human rights organisations to take a firm stance by demanding accountability from Kenyan authorities.
“I am appealing to our counterparts in foreign governments, including the U.S. administration, the Congress, and human rights bodies, to insist on protection of Kenyan youth,” she said.
Maina further urged international partners to tie bilateral aid to human rights compliance, insisting that Kenya’s security laws—especially counter-terror legislation—were being misused against peaceful demonstrators.
“There must be full-scale investigations into the abuse of counter-terror laws and the killings of young people during protests,” she added.
Calls for Justice Beyond Compensation
While acknowledging that the Kenyan government had initiated a compensation framework for families of protest victims, Maina argued that financial payouts alone were not enough.
She maintained that true justice must be served, so that families who lost loved ones can find closure.
“We appreciate compensation efforts, but justice must prevail. Parents who lost their children deserve peace, not just money,” she emphasised.
The lawmaker insisted that Kenya’s partnerships with foreign nations should be conditioned on strict observance of human rights and civil liberties.
Protests That Prompted the Appeal
Her comments follow months of unrest and deadly demonstrations across Kenya.
- On June 25, 2025, nationwide protests held in memory of youth killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations reportedly left at least 10 people dead.
- Another round of protests took place on July 7, marking the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba Day, a historic pro-democracy movement.
- These protests resulted in at least 11 deaths and more than 500 injuries, according to human rights monitors.
Njeri Maina warned that without urgent international oversight, the cycle of violence could worsen, leaving many more youths vulnerable.
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