Kenya Downgraded to ‘Repressed’ Status Amid Deadly Crackdown and Digital Surveillance Surge – Civicus Report

Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya has been officially downgraded to a “repressed” state in the latest Civicus Monitor global civic space report—placing it among countries where citizens face growing restrictions on basic freedoms, including the right to protest, assemble, and express dissent.

The downgrade follows the government’s lethal response to recent anti-tax protests, where security forces used excessive force against mostly young demonstrators. At least 39 people were killed during the June and July demonstrations, with dozens more injured or arbitrarily arrested.

Civicus, a global alliance tracking civic freedoms across 197 countries, cited Kenya’s violent clampdown on peaceful protests, rising intimidation of activists, and the expansion of state surveillance online as key reasons for the demotion from its previous “obstructed” ranking.

“Kenya is experiencing a sharp backslide in civic freedoms,” the report noted. “The government’s response to peaceful dissent has grown increasingly militarized, and digital surveillance is being weaponized to stifle criticism.”

Growing Alarm Among Rights Groups

Local and international human rights organizations have echoed the concern, warning that the state is normalizing violence as a tool of governance.

Civil society leaders say recent amendments to security laws, increased monitoring of online speech, and the targeting of independent media reflect a deeper trend of democratic erosion.

“This is not just a protest issue—it’s about the shrinking space for citizens to participate in national dialogue without fear,” said a representative from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).

A Regional Warning Signal

Kenya’s reclassification places it in the company of countries like Uganda and Ethiopia, raising fears that East Africa is becoming increasingly hostile to civic expression. Analysts warn that such regression threatens regional stability and undermines Kenya’s long-standing image as a democratic anchor in the Horn of Africa.

The government has yet to respond formally to the Civicus findings. However, civil society is calling for independent investigations into protest-related deaths, a repeal of repressive digital policies, and stronger protections for human rights defenders.

For many young Kenyans who took to the streets seeking economic justice, the new global ranking is a grim reminder: speaking up in Kenya is becoming a dangerous act.