US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken last night held a phone call with Kenyan President William Ruto today, emphasizing key democratic principles and international cooperation.
In their discussion, Secretary Blinken highlighted the crucial importance of freedoms of assembly and expression, as enshrined in Kenya’s constitution, and highlighted the vital role that youth and civil society organizations play in healthy democracies.
The call comes against the backdrop of protests led by Kenyan youth described as Gen Z.
Kenyan police detained several people on Thursday who attempted to present a petition to the president’s office and lay flowers to honour those killed a month ago on the most violent day of
anti-government protests, protesters said.
Among those detained were Boniface Mwangi, a prominent activist involved in the protests, they said.
One of the protesters, Hanifa Adan, said on X that some of the parents of people killed in the
June 25 protest had been detained on Thursday.
In addition to domestic issues, Secretary Blinken expressed gratitude for Kenya’s contributions to the multinational security support mission in Haiti, acknowledging Kenya’s role in promoting international stability and security.
“The United States stands with the Kenyan people as they build a more inclusive and prosperous Kenya,” Blinken reiterated, emphasizing the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations and the United States’ support for Kenya’s ongoing development efforts.
