On the Arrest of 27 Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) by the Kenyan Government

Statement of the ILPS Commission 3 (Commission on Human rights in the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Fields)

The International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS) Commission 3 vehemently condemns the
brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters and the unjust arrest of 27 Human Rights Defenders
(HRDs) by the Kenyan government. The unwarranted actions taken by the National Police
Service Officers in raiding the Mathare Social Justice Centre and unlawfully apprehending these
HRDs who were exercising their democratic rights on May 8th in Mathare represent a gross
violation of human rights and a stark reminder of the systemic oppression faced by marginalized
communities.

Members of the Mathare community, alongside HRDs, gathered to demand dignified housing
and a better quality of life amid the devastation caused by floods. Instead of addressing their
legitimate grievances, the government resorted to attacking, teargassing, and violently dispersing
the peaceful demonstration. This fascist attack highlights the government’s callous disregard for
the rights and well-being of its citizens and reflects a broader pattern of oppression and systemic
violence perpetuated by the ruling class.

ILPS Commission 3 demands the immediate release of all activists and HRDs who have been
unjustly detained. Their arrest constitutes a blatant violation of their fundamental rights
enshrined in the Kenyan constitution. We call upon comrades, social justice advocates, and
human rights defenders in Kenya and globally to stand in solidarity with the Mathare Social
Justice Centre and amplify their demand for justice.

We reiterate ILPS-KENYA’s stand on the importance of social housing over the hollow promises
of affordable homes made by the government. Affordable housing alone is insufficient to address
the deep-rooted issues of poverty, inequality, and injustice prevalent in Kenyan society. Social
housing provides not just shelter but also access to essential services, infrastructure, and
community support systems, ensuring dignity and security for all.

The recent floods in Mathare and across Kenya underscore the urgent need for a paradigm shift
in the approach to housing and climate resilience. The Kenyan government’s inadequate response to the
climate crisis has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable communities, leaving them to
bear the brunt of environmental degradation and infrastructural failures. We stand in solidarity
with the protesters’ demands for dignity, social justice, and meaningful solutions to the
interconnected crises of climate and housing.

ILPS Commission 3 demands accountability from the police and government for their
reprehensible actions against peaceful demonstrators on May 8th. We demand the immediate
release of all political prisoners and an end to the systematic suppression of dissenting voices.
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