Kenya is in turmoil, as detailed in a damning midterm assessment by civil society organisations. The assessment paints a devastating portrait of the state of the nation under President William Ruto’s administration. From escalating human rights violations to widespread economic collapse, the nation is suffering under a government that seems intent on dismantling democratic institutions, crushing civil liberties, and disregarding the welfare of its citizens.
In a joint statement, a coalition of human rights defenders, legal experts, and policy advocates condemned the government’s systemic repression and gross mismanagement of the nation’s affairs. According to the report, analysis by various coalitions and networks has exposed a nation in crisis. Civil liberties have sharply declined, political violence is rampant, and government neglect has plunged essential services such as healthcare and education into chaos.
“‘This is a state of national despair. We are witnessing a regime that is systematically dismantling democratic governance and civic freedoms,’ said Davis Malombe of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, introducing the statement. The experts pointed to an alarming rise in police brutality, state-sponsored aggression, and extrajudicial killings.”
Under the Ruto administration, Kenya’s civic space has deteriorated at an unprecedented rate. CIVICUS, the global civil society monitor, downgraded Kenya’s civic space status from ‘obstructed’ to ‘repressed’ in 2024. In its report, the organisation noted how citizens are increasingly denied their basic rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and political participation.
“‘Citizens are dying in hospitals, students are stranded in universities, and the youth face police crackdowns for merely expressing dissent,’ Malombe said. His words painted a harrowing picture of a government that has failed to uphold its most basic duties to its people.”
From January to September 2023, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit documented 228 cases of police torture and 67 extrajudicial killings. Furthermore, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 63 deaths and more than 600 injuries during protests in 2024. The relentless crackdown on dissent, paired with widespread disappearances and abductions of critics, has turned the nation into a tinderbox of fear and distrust.
The situation is especially dire for women in Kenya. In 2024, 579 femicide cases were reported, an appalling statistic that highlights the government’s failure to protect women from violence. This equates to over 30 fatalities monthly, with perpetrators rarely held accountable. In the first quarter of 2025, 129 women were murdered, further compounding the national tragedy.
Nerima Wako of Transparency International-Kenya emphasised the alarming rise in gender-based violence, blaming the state’s systemic failure to protect women. She also decried the increasing political intolerance and mob aggression, particularly during the President’s recent tour, where peaceful meetings and protests were disrupted by state-backed disruptors often shielded by the state.
The collapse of public services is another hallmark of the administration’s failures. The education sector is in crisis, with chaotic university funding and a controversial new model that has been declared unconstitutional. The health sector is no better, with the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) leaving patients stranded, service providers unpaid, and the entire system in disarray.
Cornelius Oduor of the Kenya Human Rights Commission described the state of public education as dire, calling for the establishment of a national learning support fund to ensure that no child is left behind. This fund, he argued, should cover tuition, learning materials, and other expenses to alleviate economic barriers to education.
The healthcare crisis is equally pressing. The government’s failure to properly manage the NHIF transition has left many vulnerable citizens without access to life-saving treatment. “Authorities must prioritise healthcare and fix the broken system immediately,” Oduor demanded.
The civil society coalition is calling for urgent action to address the grave human rights abuses and institutional failures plaguing the nation. They demand impartial investigations into all cases of enforced disappearances, police killings, and abductions. Those responsible, from the foot soldiers to the high-ranking officials, must be held accountable.
The experts also call for the disbandment of elite police units involved in unlawful operations and the immediate cessation of the politicisation of security agencies. The need for reforms in the police force, education, and healthcare systems has never been more urgent.
Kenya is at a crossroads. The current administration’s disregard for the rule of law, human rights, and basic governance has left the nation in a state of crisis. Unless there is a swift and decisive shift towards accountability, justice, and effective governance, the future of the country looks grim indeed.
