Cases in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania raise fear of regional trend

Kenya hit a recent wave of repression, annulling his reputation of the Democracy Lighthouse in East Africa.

Critics fear that it slides down the path of her neighbors – Uganda and Tanzania, both are notorious to shoot for disagreement.

Kenyi’s laws are considered widely more advanced – especially in protecting fundamental freedoms like the right to protest.

But Kenya testified all major structures in protests – the latest example Murder of at least 10 people in national demonstrations against the Government of President William Ruta As he tried to ban live TV and a protest radionist.

“Rogue regime” – he declared the title of standard newspapers in defiant memory of those several years ago in the demonstrations of mass anti-tax, but “instead of earing, they were filled in the ear with British wires and cold princes”.

But as for the Minister of Internal Affairs Kipchumba Murkomen, the police showed “Exceptional restraint” as they felt “a state impact” attempt. “

“We condemn criminal anarchists who are on behalf of peaceful demonstrations of waves, looting, sexual assault and destruction in our people,” he said, accusing protesters by attacking police stations and injuries to 300 officers.

However, the right of Kenya’s right (LSK) condemned the police for their protest handling.

“Unnecessary aggression and a rough force that culminated the meaningless loss of life and meaningless destruction of property does not have a place in a free democratic society,” he said.

The turn was only a few weeks after 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojvang died in police custody. He was arrested after being charged with defamation of senior police officers – and died in the detention of attack wounds, an autopsy was found.

His death launched a small protest in the capital of Nairobi, which the police gained and the retailer, which was caught in Crossfire – shot in close up, fighting for his life in the hospital.

LSK has been shot to be unshakable for “any healthy democracy”.

His comment was brought into a sharp focusing of the fact that Kenya risks losing his status as a democracy that many Tanzani and Ugandana surprised – and pulled inspiration.

The Tanzanian political analyst Nicodemus Minde said that there was a long “appreciation” among Tanzanians on the abilities of Kenyans to “tell the truth to power.”

It was to watch the main leader of the opposition Tanzania Tundu Lissa, who said BBC last year that “We have not pressured enough enough for democratic reform.”

“What Kenya did to build his democratic space is something we need to do,” he said.

Having wonderfully survived the assassination attempt after shot 16 times in 2017. years, Lissa became a symbol of state repression in Tanzania.

Is currently in custody, charged with betrayal For the gathering of its supporters under the slogan “there is no reform; no choice”.

The government saw it as an attempt to launch a rebellion – and risks that he was sentenced to death if he was convicted if he was convicted.

The 57-year opposition leader believes that the attempted party Chama Cha Map Entire (CCM) – which was in power of independence in 1961. years – to clear his way to victory in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for October.

This perception is reinforced by the fact that his party Chadem was forbidden to dispute the survey After refusing to sign an election code of conduct that he believed that freely undermine his right to campaign.

The opposition in Uganda sees himself in a similar situation, emphasizing that President Iover Museveni was in power almost 40 years and – Together with the son of Muhoozi Kainerugab, who runs the military – It snaps into political rivals in the preparation in the election at the beginning of 2026. years.

The opposition politician Ugandan Kizza Besigie was in custody since November, and the Government wanted to be tried for a military court after charging him to overthrow the government – the accusation denies.

Although Kenya has an independent judiciary and maintains the regular choices that lead to MARTHA KARUA – one of the most respected human rights lawyers, and the leader of the small opposition parties in all three Eastern African countries in all three Eastern States.

“We look at the regional crisis – not at the economic crisis, not a crisis of trade, but only democracy,” she said at a recent press conference.

Activists like her are upset with the fact that More than 80 Kenijca has been abducted last year People who have never identified, raising fears that it was the latest government strategy to break down after protests because of the moves to increase taxes in the middle of the cost of crisis.

There is also evidence of mounting that Kenya is no longer safe haven for Ugandan and Tanzanes, with security agencies from three countries, they obviously demonstrated to hinder the opposition.

Besigie was in Nairobi to launch books in November, when he disappeared – Only on the surface four days later at the Uganda Military Court.

The Government in Uganda accused him of trying to negotiate weapons in Kenya to launch a rebellion home and said it was arrested in a cross-border surgery conducted with knowledge of Kenyi’s intelligence services.

Kenya initially denied, saying that unconsciously surgery was on his soil, although Kenyi’s foreign minister recently told local media that there were certain questions “about Besigie’s visit to Kenya and” had to “have” had “. Did not work out.

About two months after Besigie’s temptation, exiled Tsehai’s exiled Tsehai said, said the armed men in Nairobi, who were then, fortunately, in itself, a few hours later released several hours later.

Mrs Tsehai said was a man and choked four attackers that made her vehicle.

“I am sure the reason for the abduction was to access my social media and [because of] The work of the whistle I work, “she said, as her abductions kept asking how to unlock her phone.

Mrs. Tsehai is an unwavering critic of President Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan and accused his government in the country, despite promising reforms, when 2021 took office, after the death of its authoritarian predecessor, John Magufui.

Karua said that despite “the back” of democracy and human rights in East Africa there was a little concern, and the African Union “silent”, while the US – “” “” was “a” self-proprietary “- faced his” own issues “.

Tanzania was deported Karu and two Kenyan activists when they flew in the country in May to show solidarity with LisaWhile the Kenian activist Boniface Mwangi and the Ugandan Agather Atahaire lawyer was detained after they were allowed to enter.

After release, They both accused the Tanzanic police sexual abuse.

Tanzania’s police denied the charge, however,, however, overturning detention and deportation of foreign activists, the president of Samia issued a wrist warning.

“If they are contained in their country, let them not come here to mix. Let’s not give them a chance. They have already created chaos in their country,” she said.

Men’s activists, Kenii’s president of the route did not condemn alleged abuse and instilledly, apologized to the Tanzanian government.

“To our neighbors from Tanzania, if we do wrong in any way, forgive us,” he said.

“If there’s something Kenyans did it, it’s wrong, we want to apologize.”

Macharia Munene, Kenyan Professor in International Relations, said BBC that the Ruth Apology derived from his “perceived failure to keep people [Kenyans] in check “.

He added that the Tanzanian government became a “disturbing” potential impact of kinyan activists on October elections, and the route rule under pressure “contains problems”.

For the Kenyan activists, exacerbating repression in three countries only strengthened their decisively to fight back.

Mr. Mwangi, one of the most prominent Kenyi’s most prominent campaigns for human rights, saying it, “If these people are united in the fabric of their citizens, then we must be united in the fight to remove them from power.”