A coalition of 194 civil society organisations has accused the government of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation, surveillance and harassment against human rights defenders, warning that Kenya's democratic and civic space is under increasing threat.
The statement comes as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced plans for intensified police operations against criminal gangs and "goons" over the coming weeks, saying security agencies would increase deployments at public events to restore order.
"We have a plan with the Inspector General. Over the next few weeks, we will have intensified operations against goons and gangs. There will also be increased deployment of police officers at public functions to deal with these goons," Murkomen said.
The CS dismissed claims that the government was facilitating criminal gangs, insisting security agencies had already demonstrated their ability to dismantle organised criminal networks through anti-banditry operations.
However, in a joint statement issued on Monday, the civil society organisations alleged that security agencies were instead targeting accountability groups and governance activists, particularly The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), its Executive Director Diana Gichengo and members of the Okoa Uchumi campaign.
The organisations claimed recent incidents point to an escalating pattern of surveillance, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and harassment aimed at silencing civic actors advocating for transparency and public finance accountability.
"We are witnessing a chilling regression towards dark-era police-state tactics specifically targeting defenders of public finance integrity and civic space," the coalition said.
The groups cited the disruption of a civil society meeting at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on June 12, where unidentified individuals allegedly stormed a public forum attended by governance and accountability advocates. They said TISA was among the conveners of the meeting, which they claimed was attacked by individuals they described as "state-hired goons."
The coalition further alleged that Gichengo has been under surveillance for weeks by occupants of Subaru and Prado vehicles. It also claimed that on July 2, at least 13 suspected security officers attempted to enter TISA's offices without following legal procedures.
The statement also referenced previous incidents involving the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), including the disruption of one of its press conferences, the deportation of KHRC staff member Martin Mavenjina to Uganda, and the denial of entry into Kenya to Open Society Foundations official Brian Kagoro despite his long-term residence in the country.
The organisations further claimed that during the June 25 anniversary demonstrations, seven human rights defenders were arbitrarily arrested before later being abandoned in different parts of Nairobi, while three others remain missing after allegedly being forcibly disappeared ahead of the protests.
According to the coalition, the alleged actions violate constitutional guarantees on human dignity, freedom and the rule of law.
The organisations also cited a recent High Court judgment criticising the use of masked plain-clothes officers operating in unmarked vehicles, arguing that such tactics undermine police accountability.
The coalition called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Inspector General of Police to immediately halt what it described as illegal surveillance and harassment of TISA officials.
It also urged the National Police Service to account for the unmarked Subaru vehicles allegedly used during the July 2 operation and investigate officers suspected of unlawful conduct.
Additionally, the groups called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the alleged office raid, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture claims and attacks on civil society organisations.