Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a plea to Kenyan authorities to cease what it describes as the harassment of Otsieno Namwaya, its Associate Africa Director, attributable to his efforts in documenting human rights abuses within the nation.

From August 23 to 25, Namwaya's residence was reportedly under the watch of plainclothes officers believed to be part of the police’s Operation Support Unit. Observers claim these individuals photographed his home and were later seen conversing with uniformed officers near a local police station. According to HRW, these actions represent attempts to intimidate Namwaya due to his involvement in human rights documentation. The organization has reached out to Inspector General Douglas Kanja, seeking clarity on whether there was a legal basis for the surveillance and has requested assurances for the safety and security of Namwaya and his family.

Federico Borello, HRW’s Interim Executive Director, remarked that this surveillance aligns with a broader pattern of constraining civic freedoms in Kenya. He emphasized the need for Kenyan authorities to foster an environment that supports rather than hinders civil society, enhancing accountability and adherence to the rule of law.

Adding to the voices of concern, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) labeled the alleged harassment as "a brazen act of intimidation" and "an assault on Kenya’s Constitution." The KHRC highlighted this incident as part of a troubling trend of unlawful surveillance directed at muffling the voices within civil society, a practice that potentially destabilizes Kenya's constitutional order.

HRW’s previous reports have shed light on grave concerns regarding the conduct of Kenyan security forces, including allegations of forced disappearances and deaths in custody during counterterrorism operations in Nairobi and the northeast. The reports criticize the lack of oversight and accountability that has marred the effectiveness and reputation of law enforcement agencies in Kenya.

Further scrutiny comes from international observers, with recent investigations by Just Security revealing the opaque involvement of the US and UK in Kenyan counterterrorism efforts, raising questions about the contribution of foreign assistance to potential human rights abuses.

Both HRW and KHRC urge Kenyan officials to halt the harassment of human rights defenders and to ensure accountability for those responsible. These actions, they argue, not only breach Kenya's constitutional commitments but also erode public confidence in its democratic frameworks.

The increasing international and local attention to these matters underscores the urgent need for transparency and reform within Kenya's approach to national security and civil liberties.