The Institute for Social Accountability
Wananchi Rada!
We are deeply outraged and heartbroken by the events that unfolded during the June 25th, 2025 protests across Kenya. What should have been a moment for peaceful expression of discontent, as outrightly catered for under Article 37 of the very constitution we swore to uphold, turned into a national tragedy, marked by bloodshed, brutality, and betrayal of the very people our institutions are meant to serve.
The recently tabled 2025/26 National Budget confirms what many Kenyans have long feared: this is not a budget for the people. Despite a no more tax claim the budget does nothing to ease the burden on cost of living, critical social sectors like education and healthcare have faced real cuts and chronic underfunding — while spending on the Executive and defence swells unchecked.
As parents, brothers, and sisters, we at TISA stand in firm solidarity with the courageous students of Butere Girls. We join all Kenyans in strongly condemning the government’s intimidation and brutalisation of our daughters for simply expressing truth through art.
Four in every ten Kenyans are poor, and many more are at risk of falling into poverty unless urgent and decisive action is taken to allocate public resources wisely and spend prudently. Their dreams of a dignified life are constantly shattered, and essential public services, particularly in agriculture, education, health, and other critical sectors, continue to deteriorate.
As the sun rays in this country that houses the equator usher us into 2025, The Institute forSocial Accountability (TISA) sends forth a clarion call to all the people of Kenya and active citizens of the globe. May the voice of the people get hoarse while ensuring that democracy finds its rhythm not in the hollow echoes of boardrooms but in the heartbeat of the people.
Washington, D.C. – Investors, World Bank and IMF leadership and other stakeholders convene this
week in Washington, D.C. for the Annual Meetings of the world’s two largest multilateral international
financial institutions. The meetings are being held at a time of unprecedented global debt that is
undermining progress toward sustainable economies, especially in low- and moderate-income (“LMI”)
countries in the global south.
Bruce John Chawa, a young man, dared to speak out against the governance of Mombasa County
led by Mombasa Governor online. For this, he was allegedly abducted, tortured, and gang raped in
the most horrific way. His humiliation was threatened to be shared on social media as a warning to
others who dare to challenge power. What kind of society tolerates such savage repression? These
actions by authorities are a blatant disregard for the constitution and the rule of law.
The High Court ruling declaring the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF 2015) unconstitutional is a vital milestone in ensuring separation of power, support for devolution and respect for the principles public finance management in Kenya.
The call by the Gen Z and Kenyans at large is that the government’s appetite for spending far outmatches the
country’s capacity to realize such revenues. Gen Zs and Kenyans are asking that we live within our means!
President Ruto’s assent of the Appropriation Bill is a betrayal and insult to the public. His actions are
tantamount to signing off expenditures whose financing Kenyans have forced him to reject. The glaring and
connected consequence is a spending deficit of more than Ksh. 1 trillion in FY 2024/25, which the
government will conveniently convert to public debt against citizens’ preference, and a disproportionate
intergenerational debt burden.
Today, several prominent activists and social media personalities were rounded up in a disturbing escalation of government intimidation. Gabriel Oguda, a popular social media activist, was allegedly abducted this morning. In his last message before going offline, Gabriel remarked that cops were at his gate. Osama Otero, who has been holding popular X Spaces opposing the Finance Bill 2024, was also reportedly abducted by unknown people. Other X users suspected to have been abducted include Drey Mwangi, TemperCR7, Harriet, Shad Khalif, Franje, Worldsmith, and Hilla254.