The Law Society of Kenya are deeply horrified

The Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working are deeply horrified

at the discovery of the bodies of two of the four missing Mlolongo abductees. Kenya is facing a worrying wave of abductions and extrajudicial killings and we demand action and justice for the victims. Read the full statement here: https://defenderscoalition.org/law-society-of-kenya-and.../ #StandUp4HumanRights

Ruto’s order to issue ID cards without checking residents at the border raises questions

This is truly a strange announcement. What is behind it? The answer is, as always, simple. This decision is intended to register as many voters as possible from the north of the country. This is nothing more than a political necessity for the president, because the election is coming up, there will be another election in 2027 and Ruto needs voters. During his visit to Wajir County to review developments, President Ruto announced the abolition of the verification process for residents of the area when issuing an identity card. Wajir is the capital of Wajir County in the former North Eastern Province of Kenya. It borders Somalia to the east and Ethiopia to the northwest. Wajir is known for its dry climate and historical significance, including as an excavation site of ancient burial mounds. According to the 2019 census, the city has a population of 150,116 and is predominantly inhabited by Somalis. Wajir District, of which Wajir is the largest town, covers an area of ​​about 55,840.6 km² and had a total population of 781,2633 in 2019. Due to its strategic location near Ethiopia and Somalia4, the district serves as a commercial hub. According to the 2010 Constitution, all Kenyan children are equal and there is no area that should be discriminated against when applying for this important document, Ruto said. “I want to assure you that the discrimination we have been witnessing in this area for 60 years will come to an end.”  “If a child from Mandera, Wajir or Garissa applies for an identity card and is asked a lot of questions, that is not right and this problem must stop from now on,” the President said. However, experts have warned against this move, saying that the need to verify registered persons before issuing national identity cards has arisen due to the influx of foreign nationals into the country. This arrangement is also strange because Kenya has - supposedly - introduced visa-free travel, but with the restriction of an eTA (electronic Travel Authority). This would be justified by the fact that Kenya wants to know who is coming.

Why I was impeached - Rigathi Gachagua

And now the ex-vice president spoke about his impeachment.  A detailed account of these proceedings has been given in previous reports. Here is a brief summary.  Rigathi Gachagua, the former vice president of Kenya, was impeached on October 18, 2024. The impeachment was the result of a historic vote in the Kenyan Senate, making him the first vice president to be removed from office in this way since impeachment was included in the Kenyan constitution in 2010. The impeachment was followed by 11 charges against him, including insubordination to the president, incitement to ethnic violence, corruption, subversion of government and money laundering. The Senate found him guilty on five of the 11 charges, including ethnically divisive politics and threatening judges. Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua has spoken out on the reasons for his impeachment. Gachagua said it was because he disagreed with President William Ruto on many of his policies. He also said he initially believed in Ruto's vision but the people he spoke to said otherwise. He raised these concerns with President William Ruto then things started to go wrong between them. "I started telling the president that the people I was speaking to didn't like what we were doing. When it came to affordable housing, the president said it was good and I supported him because I thought it was good and I believed him until he introduced the housing levy when other Kenyans had loans and built their own houses.” Gachagua continued: “It was about the Finance Bill 2024 and university funding and I told the president I have spoken to parents who don’t like it and he said if we as a government have agreed to do something then we do it.” Gachagua raised these concerns in meetings with Ruto in a private conversation and nothing came of it. He went public and that is when the decision was made to remove him from office. “I used to speak to the president privately but it got to a point where I started speaking publicly and that is why they decided to remove me from office. We did not get along with the president.” He said he refused to submit to a team that only agreed with the president without telling the president the truth. "I never said that I was equal to the president. The problem was that everyone agreed with everything he said. I refused to do that." President Ruto's wish is to have a government that responds to his calls. Criticism, whether justified or not, is not welcome and is stifled. And Gachagua had taken part in the demonstrations against the funding law, which was an open rebellion against President Ruto and which was also the trigger for the impeachment proceedings.

The IMF has recommended that the assets of senior government officials and the president be disclosed

Der IWF hat empfohlen – nicht verlangt –, dass die Vermögenswerte hochrangiger Regierungsbeamter und des Präsidenten offengelegt werden. Dieses Projekt wird vom Finanzministerium durchgeführt. Gemäß der Budget Policy Statement (BPS) 2025 hat sich die Regierung nun verpflichtet, die Vermögenswerte dieser Beamten über ein digitales System öffentlich zu machen. Ein Datum für die Umsetzung dieses Projekts wurde nicht genannt. Es ist davon auszugehen, dass das, was Alke weiß, veröffentlicht wird. Es wird keine Überraschungen geben. Die Veröffentlichung der Vermögenswerte dieser Beamten mag eine gute Sache sein, ist aber nur die halbe Wahrheit. Ein wichtiger Schritt wäre es, zu veröffentlichen, woher die Vermögenswerte stammen, wie sie erworben wurden und wie viel Steuern diese Beamten zahlen. Der IWF stellte Gesetze in Frage, die darauf abzielten, die Vorschriften zur Offenlegung der Vermögenswerte von Regierungsbeamten mit den Gesetzen zu Interessenkonflikten in Einklang zu bringen, um internationalen Standards zu entsprechen. Der IWF hatte berichtet, dass die Gesetze Schlupflöcher aufwiesen. Unter anderem fehlten Möglichkeiten zur Überprüfung der Rechtmäßigkeit deklarierter Vermögenswerte. Nach Angaben des Finanzministeriums bleibt Korruption, einschließlich des Missbrauchs öffentlicher Gelder, eine große „Bedrohung“ für die Erreichung der Ziele der Wirtschaftsagenda der Regierung von Präsident William Ruto, die eine wirtschaftliche Entwicklung an der Basis (BETA) vorsieht. Es besteht die Überzeugung, dass die Veröffentlichung des Vermögens hochrangiger Beamter die Führung stärken wird. Davon kann man jedoch nicht ausgehen. Im Internet heißt es, dass das Vermögen von Präsident Ruto auf 500 Millionen Dollar geschätzt wird. Wenn diese Zahl auf einer digitalen Plattform erscheint... warum sollte sie seine Führung stärken? Das ist bekannt, nichts Neues!

The Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working are deeply horrified

Gachagua for President?

During a church service at Almighty God Ministries in Mathioya, Gachagua promised to make a major policy announcement. The former vice president said he postponed his policy announcement because he still needed to gather feedback from different parts of the country. Gachagua is obviously trying to tread more carefully so as not to repeat the mistake of 2022 when he supported President William Ruto without having a political party for the Mount Kenya region. Gachagua announced that he would submit a preliminary report on the ongoing consultations on February 9, outlining what forms of government Kenyans prefer. In their speeches, Gachagua's supporters continued their attacks on President Ruto's "Kenya First" government over the increase in kidnappings, which has been reported before.  The former vice president confirmed his intention to work with other opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections. Gachagua said he would join other politicians in freeing the country from Ruto's rule. The former vice president accused Ruto of betraying the people who sent him to State House in the bitter 2022 presidential election campaign. The opposition is ready to use all means to ensure Ruto will be a one-term president. William Ruto did himself no good by removing Gachagua from office. Now he has created an opposition leader who can be dangerous for him and not just in 2027.  As vice president, Rigathi Gachagua has played a crucial role in supporting President Ruto's administration. He has been actively involved in implementing the government's agenda, particularly in areas such as economic reform, agriculture and decentralization. Gachagua's focus on the needs of marginalized communities is in line with the Kenya Kwanza Coalition's commitment to inclusive development. One of Gachagua's key roles has been to promote unity and cohesion in the country. Kenya's political landscape is often marked by ethnic and regional divisions, and Gachagua has sought to bridge these divides by promoting dialogue and cooperation among different communities. His efforts in this regard have been critical in maintaining stability and fostering a sense of national unity. Like many politicians, Rigathi Gachagua has faced challenges and controversies. His tenure as Vice President was marked by critical criticism from the public and the media, particularly regarding his handling of certain policy issues and his past financial dealings. However, Gachagua remained true to his commitment to the Kenyan people, often stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership. Rigathi Gachagua's rise to the Vice President is a testament to his resilience, commitment and ability to connect with ordinary Kenyans. From his humble beginnings in Nyeri County to his current role as a second-in-command to the Kenyan government, Gachagua has demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and community development. As Kenya continues to navigate its political and economic challenges, Gachagua's leadership will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping the country's future. His story serves as an inspiration to many and highlights the potential of individuals to rise above their circumstances and make a significant impact on society.  

Report from KNCHR about kidnapping in Kenya

I have reported on this before, the kidnappings in Kenya. Kenya has been hit by a terrifying wave of kidnappings, targeting - in particular - social media influencers and content creators known for criticizing the government. This raises a very special suspicion. This has made people worry about freedom of expression. Human rights groups, opposition leaders and families of the victims are calling for urgent action. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KNCHR) reported that a total of 82 people were reported kidnapped in 2024, 29 of whom were still missing at the end of the year. Seven cases of kidnapping were reported in December alone. In 2025, 13 more cases of kidnapping or enforced disappearance were reported in the last few months, bringing the total number of kidnappings since June 2024 to 82. Recent cases include the disappearance of Gideon Kibet, a popular cartoonist also known as “Kibet Bull,” and his brother Rony Kiplangat. @pulse Kenya