GRAVE CONCERNS OVER CONTINUED INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT,
AND ATTACKS AGAINST THE CIVIC SPACE IN KENYA
Media Statement: 13th July 2026
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, human rights defenders, citizens, grassrootsmovements and champions of accountability, strongly condemn the escalating, coordinated, andlawless campaign of intimidation leveled against The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), itsExecutive Director, the entire team and other Okoa Uchumi Campaign members.
Increasingly, we are witnessing a chilling regression towards dark-era police-state tactics specificallytargeting defenders of public finance integrity and civic space. TISA is the latest defender ofdemocracy to come under attack – an attack we believe has been instigated by this government. Thisstate-sanctioned assault seems to grow bolder by the day, as illustrated by the alarming incidentsdocumented below:
❖ The All Saints Cathedral Church attack where state-hired goons targeted a meeting of civil societyactors working on public finance management within a sanctuary of prayer. The goons publiclyconfessed to having been sent by some powerful government officials to carry out the heinous attack.Notably, TISA was one of the co-conveners of the event that was disrupted by goons on June 12, 2026alongside Okoa Uchumi partners.
❖ Surveillance and Road Harassment: Since early June 2026, TISA’s Executive Director, DianaGichengo, has been subjected to a continued pattern of intrusive surveillance and road harassment bytinted Subaru and Prado vehicles, including repeated tailing along routes she regularly uses to and fromwork. This came shortly after she was informed that individuals close to a well-known governmentofficial had been making inquiries about her, on the basis of TISA’s public finance managementaccountability work.
❖
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, at least 13 suspected state security officers in four Subarus attempted togain entry into the TISA offices. Operating entirely outside of legal procedures, the men aggressivelydemanded the identification and surrender of “the lawyer” who works at TISA.
❖ This pattern of state-led attacks and intimidation of vocal human rights defenders is clearly visible.The regime has previously unlawfully rendered KHRC staff member Martin Mavenjina to Uganda, andcontinues to refuse his return to be reunited with his family.
