By Horizon News Reporter
Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity, a renowned human rights activist and former Secretary General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union, has condemned the recent arrest of a close ally of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Speaking during a press conference today, Dr. Kinity linked President William Ruto to the arrest, accusing his administration of misrepresenting facts regarding the ongoing political unrest in Kenya.
Dr. Kinity argued that the June 2024 GenZ protests, in which the arrested ally is alleged to have played a role, were not orchestrated by the Deputy President. “Contrary to claims by pro-Ruto supporters, these protests did not originate in June, and Gachagua was not involved,” Dr. Kinity stated.
He affirmed that the protests began in March under the leadership of opposition figure Raila Odinga, who stood in opposition to the punitive Finance Bill and rejected various government policies.
The arrest of individuals linked to the protests, Dr. Kinity emphasized, contradicts the Kenyan Constitution, which allows peaceful demonstrations without criminalizing those who organize or sponsor them.
He criticized the ongoing attempts to implicate Gachagua in the protests and urged the public not to be deceived by the narrative promoted by President Ruto’s administration.
Dr. Kinity also urged Parliament, particularly the youthful members of Parliament, not to succumb to pressure from the government to rubber-stamp decisions he described as detrimental to Kenyans. “Our youthful MPs should be champions of the people, not tools of bad governance,” he said, calling on the MPs to defend the interests of ordinary citizens rather than enabling harmful policies.
In his speech, Dr. Kinity also called on the Kenyan police and defense forces to join hands in protecting the rights of Kenyans. Referring to the deaths of several young protesters during the June demonstrations, Dr. Kinity said, “Many young Kenyans were killed while standing up for good leadership by protesting the government’s oppressive policies.
The security forces should be protecting them, not suppressing their constitutional rights.”
Dr. Kinity’s presser also touched on the proposed taxation of farmers, which he warned could devastate the agricultural sector. “Farmers are now being taxed for owning cattle, growing potatoes, and maize. This is a clear indication of the increasing burden the government is placing on ordinary Kenyans,” he said.
As a member of the Presidential Advisory Board of the Republican National Committee in the United States, Dr. Kinity has consistently spoken out against policies he sees as harmful to the common Kenyan, aligning himself with grassroots movements calling for better governance.
In his final remarks, Dr. Kinity urged Kenyans not to be misled and to continue defending their rights, warning that the country’s future could be at risk if the government continues with its current trajectory.
