Respect youth's contribution to Kenya: US Secretary of State Blinken tells Ruto

According to a readout of a phone conversation between the two leaders on Thursday, Blinken emphasised the importance of youths exercising their right to express themselves by picketing and demonstrating as stipulated in the law. 

"The Secretary underscored the importance of freedoms of assembly and expression as enshrined in Kenyan’s constitution, emphasized the vital role played by youth and civil society organizations in healthy democracies, and urged respect for their contributions to Kenya’s development," the US State Department said.

Secretary Blinken also lauded President Ruto for his directive on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate and charge police officers who used excessive force on protestors during the anti-government demonstrations experienced in the past month. 

"The Secretary commended President Ruto for his pledge of accountability for security forces allegedly involved in protest violence or responsible for disappearances and his commitment to direct police to refrain from using violence of any kind against protesters," the statement read in part. 

The multinational security support mission to Haiti also formed part of their conversation as Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the US government's support in Kenya's operations. 

"The Secretary thanked President Ruto for Kenya’s contributions to the multinational security support mission to Haiti. The Secretary reiterated that the United States stands with the Kenyan people as they build a more inclusive and prosperous Kenya."

Currently, Kenya has dispatched over 600 police officers to Haiti to address gang-based violence that has crippled the nation over the years. The US pledged over Ksh.39 billion to support the mission. 

The conversation between the two leaders comes in the wake of Kenyans calling for justice for the protestors who lost their lives during the demonstrations. 

 The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), in its latest report, says that the death toll for protestors stood at 60 while the number of those reported missing are 66. 

The human rights group have since urged the government to release those abducted and compensate the affected families.