The alleged abduction of three Kenyan human rights defenders by the East African security forces has sparked outrage in Nigeria’s rights community, as concerned groups are unanimously demanding the unconditional release of the detained activists.
The Nigerian human rights groups are joining others around the world in condemning the alleged repressive actions, abductions, and killings of rights defenders in Kenya.
They are horrified by the continued crackdown on peaceful protests and the abduction and detention of individuals suspected by the administration of President William Ruto of spearheading resistance against his economic policies and police brutality.
On the night of June 27, 2025, three activists, Mark Armani, Mulingwa Nzau, and Mutunge Mwangi, were unlawfully arrested while en route to Mombasa, accused without evidence of inciting violence during the June 25 protests against state brutality.
The protesting rights groups are claiming that the arrested individuals are not criminals. “They are protesters and human rights defenders, seeking social justice through non-violent means.”
Rallying the protesting rights community in Nigeria are Philip Jakpor, the Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI); Aderonke Ige of Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development; Chisom Eze of Community Action Movement; Chima Williams of Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN); Richard Benin of Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF); and Florence Ifeanyi-Aneke of New-Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI).
According to them, growing discontent with government policies led to peaceful protests in June 2024, when the Ruto government proposed tax increases with controversial clauses, which were rejected by young Kenyans who used social media platforms as a tool of mobilisation.
Though the Kenyan parliament amended the bill, removing some controversial clauses, it was still passed, leading to nationwide protests and heavy clashes with security forces.
Protests at the parliament buildings were forcefully repressed by the police, leading to at least 22 deaths. Since then, Kenyan security services have been accused of abducting, torturing and extra-judicially murdering citizens suspected of being the leaders of the anti-government protests.
The latest incident was last June when Amani, Nzau and Mwangi were abducted by security forces while travelling to the coastal city of Mombasa on a routine work trip on a bus.
Their bus was reportedly intercepted by police from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation. They were arrested and detained at a police station in Nairobi because they were involved in planning and organising the violence and looting that took place on the fringes of the June 25 protests against police brutality and government policies in Nairobi and other cities.
On Monday, June 30, they were arraigned in court and without any formal charges, the prosecution sought to detain them for a further 21 days to ‘facilitate investigations’.
The prosecution alleges, without any facts, that they were involved in arson, house breakages and looting. The ruling on their further detention is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
The trio are well-known human rights defenders involved with many grassroots social justice movements, including the Kongamano La Mageuzi, and there are numerous videos and photos of them peacefully participating in the June 25 protests.
It is clear from footage on social media and the mainstream media that the looting and carnage were carried out by armed gangs recruited by politicians allied to the ruling party and protected by the police.
On June 24, Kenya Television Network and The Standard newspaper published an exposé of politicians and officials of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition planning the arming and deployment of armed gangs to discredit the protestors.
The detention of the trio comes in the wake of an ongoing crackdown against civic society organisations in Kenya, with daily reports of abductions, summons by police and detentions all over the country.
The arrest and prosecution of the trio, without any formal charges, and the attempt by the state to detain them for an extended period is an attempt to silence them and stop them and other Kenyans from exercising their freedom of speech, conscience and association.
Human rights groups across Africa are in solidarity with Kenyans at this particular time when the country seems to be entering a particularly dark period of increased repression, gross abuse of human rights and a rapidly shrinking political and civic space.
With Ruth Mumbi of Women Collective Kenya (WCK), Odhiambo Oyoko of the Forum for Civic Participation in Governance (FCPG), Kenya, and Marcela Olivera of Blue Planet Project, Bolivia, joining the Nigerian groups, they are jointly
demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mark Amiani, Mulingwa Nzau and Mutunge Mwangi and an end to their detention and prosecution.
Full accountability and an independent investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) into police violence and misconduct, including collusion with armed gangs to infiltrate peaceful protests and cause mayhem, violence and looting.
An Independent international commission to investigate the spate of abductions and murders of human rights defenders, bloggers and social justice activists, as well as state members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), should refer the situation in Kenya to the International ICC prosecutor for serious crimes.
On its part, the Africa Water Justice Network says it’s standing in unwavering solidarity with the protesting activists in Kenya and strongly condemning the violent state repression and unlawful detention of human rights defenders who are courageously standing up for justice, dignity, and democracy.
The detention of the rights defenders without any formal charges, according to it, “is not only an attack on them but an attack on every person across this continent fighting for equity, accountability, and human rights.”
As they face the threat of extended incarceration under fabricated allegations, the group is making it clear: “We are watching. The people of Africa are watching across borders, and will not be silenced!
“We further condemn the broader crackdown on civil society in Kenya, including the increasing and alarming reports of arbitrary arrests and abductions. This repression is designed to silence dissent, fracture movements, and shrink the democratic space. All must condemn it.”
They are therefore calling on the government of Kenya to immediately release the three known detained comrades, all other protesters in custody, and to end harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders.
Regional and global movements to add their voices in solidarity;
All people of conscience are to remain vigilant and stand together, across borders, in defence of freedom, justice, and human dignity; and to the people of Kenya: “you are not alone. An injustice to one is an injustice to all. Your struggle is our struggle. Your courage inspires us. The power of the people is greater than the people in power — and the power of the people will prevail.”