Brian Wachira
The year 2023 ended on a bad note for human rights activists, civic actors and bloggers. This is after political blogger Daniel Muthiani, also known as Sniper, was abducted and later found dead. Sniper disappeared on December 2, and his body was discovered on December 16, 2023. These events transpired after the blogger had criticized officials in the Meru County Government through his social media accounts.
Daniel Muthiani was not the last casualty in unjustified killings due to political blogging. The year 2024, too, started with the chilling news of another killing of blogger Peris Mugera. Mugera had gone missing for a week before her body was discovered lying on the road at the Makutano-Sagana Highway. She was a political enthusiast and commentator in Tharaka Nithi County.
The chain of mysterious deaths continues with the death of Duke Nyabaro, a Kisii based teacher, blogger and activist. He was found dead on the morning of April 7th 2024, his body hanging outside a kiosk with a belt around his neck. The autopsy report indicated that his death was caused by strangulation.
One thing that is common about all the above individuals is their outspoken nature against authorities either on corruption, political opinions and/or human rights abuses. Freedom of expression is provided for under national, regional and international human rights instruments. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides for the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights adopted the declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa with the aim of promoting the free flow of information and ideas and greater respect for the rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Additionally, the freedom of expression is stipulated under Article 33 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
It is, therefore, absurd that despite these protection mechanisms, authorities are still hell bent towards violating the right to Freedom of Expression through all means, including by killing. This leaves the questions, is freedom of expression under threat in Kenya? Is there a systematic approach to shrink freedom of expression further?
Bloggers play a pivotal role in a democratic society. It is through freedom of expression that human rights violations, corruption and ill practices have been brought to the attention of citizens. The right of freedom of expression continues to be the tool for citizen’s quest for other rights e.g. lowering cost of living, roads, quality healthcare etc. Even where a blogger may cross the line and enter into the prohibited world of the limitations imposed under Article 33, there are legal methods which can be utilized to reprimand them. It, therefore, goes without saying that the right to freedom of expression must be promoted and protected at all times for masses to be guaranteed other rights. Importantly, this will avoid the country’s descent into the dark times witnessed in Kenya’s history.
Their deaths are also shrouded in mystery. This is an attempt to forcefully silence bloggers, in order for the persons responsible to hide their shady dealings, and to spread fear to anyone who may be willing to come forward and express themselves.
Independent voices and civic actors must step up and call out the perpetrators of the continued killing of bloggers. Silence when one blogger is killed will only likely encourage more killings of bloggers. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We must stand up, individually and collectively, for the right of freedom of expression. Let the government sponsor a prompt, thorough and independent investigation of all the pending cases of the disappearances and the murder of bloggers. Additionally, new national and county government laws and policies should be enacted to ensure bloggers are protected to contribute to the public debate effectively and without fear. We hope that the perpetrators of the continued killings will be brought to book.
