NAIROBI, Kenya — June 26, 2025 – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South Africa’s radical opposition party, has issued a scathing condemnation of President William Ruto’s government, accusing it of brutalizing peaceful protesters and censoring independent media during the nationwide anti-government demonstrations in Kenya.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the EFF stood in solidarity with Kenyan youth, who marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly 2024 protests against the Finance Bill. Those protests, which rocked the country last year, claimed over 60 lives. The latest protests, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, have already resulted in the deaths of at least eight people, with more than 400 others injured, including journalists and some police officers.
“This is a generation that refuses to bow, refuses to be silenced, and refuses to accept a future stolen by corrupt elites,” the EFF declared in its official statement.
EFF: Ruto is Ruling by Fear
The party accused President Ruto of “state-sponsored violence and censorship” following his administration’s controversial order to ban live coverage of the demonstrations. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) was instructed to shut down live broadcasts, a move widely criticized as unconstitutional and authoritarian.
The High Court has since suspended the media ban, citing constitutional protections for freedom of expression and media independence.
However, the EFF claims the damage is already done, painting the decision as a clear sign that President Ruto’s regime is “desperate to hide its crimes and control the narrative.”
Why Are Kenyans Protesting?
Wednesday’s protests were organized to commemorate the victims of the 2024 Finance Bill demonstrations and to demand accountability for corruption, police brutality, and what many see as economic betrayal by the Ruto administration.
The now-abandoned Finance Bill had been backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was seen by critics as disproportionately targeting the poor through increased taxation while shielding the wealthy from meaningful reform.
“That bill, now scrapped due to mass resistance, sought to burden the poor while protecting elites,” said the EFF, adding that President Ruto has “shown he is unwilling to lead with dignity.”
EFF Calls for Urgent Action
The EFF called on the Ruto government to:
- Immediately halt the use of police force against peaceful demonstrators
- Uphold the right to protest and freedom of the press
- Prosecute those responsible for the killings during both the 2024 and 2025 protests
- Initiate urgent reforms that reflect the will of the people
The EFF’s statement ended with a powerful reminder:
“The world is watching, and Africa is watching.”
International Reaction Growing
Human rights organizations, journalists, and international observers are expressing growing alarm over the escalating crisis. With hashtags like #RejectFinanceBill, #RutoMustGo, and #FreeTheMedia trending on social media across Africa, the pressure on the Kenyan government continues to mount.
What’s Next for Kenya?
As youth-led resistance continues to gather momentum across Nairobi and other major cities, political observers say President Ruto is facing his toughest leadership test yet.
Calls for justice, transparency, and economic reform are becoming louder by the day, and with neighboring countries taking notice, the battle between Kenya’s government and its outspoken youth is drawing continental — and global — attention.
