Kirinyaga Woman Representative, Njeri Maina, has called on the United States President, Donald Trump, to intervene over what she termed as state-sanctioned harassment of the youths by the Kenyan government.
Speaking on Wednesday evening at a meeting in Seattle, the US, the lawmaker also petitioned Congress and international human rights institutions to ensure protection for the Kenyan youths.
She called on the international community to push for accountability in the government's handling of the youths during major protests and to investigate the assault of the young Kenyans during past demonstrations.
“I want to call on our counterparts in various governments, including the US government, the Congress and human rights institutions to demand protection for the Kenyan youth," the MP stated.
Adding: "There must be bilateral aid on human rights compliance and full-scale investigations on the misuse of the counter-terror laws and the many young people who have lost their lives."
According to Njeri, while the Kenyan government came up with a compensation mechanism, justice is yet to be served for those who lost their lives and sustained injuries during the past protests.
The MP, who demanded justice for the victims of protests, noted that legal intervention would ensure fairness and bring relief for the families, who are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
"As we appreciate that the Kenyan government is coming up with compensation mechanisms, we demand justice. There must be justice so that the Kenyan parents who lost their children can get an assurance of peace and closure," the MP emphasised.
The legislator further reiterated that bilateral cooperation and international partnerships with Kenya must be tied to strict compliance with human rights.
Her comments come against the backdrop of a wave of violence and protests across the country over the last four months, particularly in June and July this year.
According to statistics by the human rights organisations, the June 25, 2025, protests, which spread across the country in commemoration of the dozens killed during last year's anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, left at least 10 people dead.
It was shortly followed by another wave of protests on July 7, held to mark the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba Day of July 7, 1990. The Saba Saba Day protests of this year left at least 11 people dead and over 500 others injured.
