Dear Ambassador George Morara Orina,
We write to express our grave concern regarding the detention of activists in Nairobi over the last 48 hours following peaceful protests against the Africa Forward Summit and the participation of France in the summit proceedings.
We are particularly alarmed by reports concerning the detention of:
Lee Sang-hun, former representative of the People’s Democracy Party of South Korea;
Joti Brar, Chair of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist);
Dimitris Patelis, founding member of the Revolutionary Theory Group of Greece;
and Song Dan-bi, director of the International Department of the People’s Democracy Party of South Korea.
We understand that the aforementioned foreign nationals, who were exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, are being illegally detained by Kenyan authorities.
Peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution of Kenya and under international human rights obligations to which Kenya is a signatory. The arrest and continued detention of peaceful protesters raise serious concerns about civic freedoms, democratic participation, and the treatment of dissenting voices in Kenya.
We therefore call on the Government of Kenya to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release all activists detained for peacefully protesting;
- Ensure the safety, wellbeing, and legal rights of those currently in custody;
- Uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly;
- Refrain from the use of intimidation, harassment, or excessive force against civil society actors and demonstrators.
We urge the Kenyan authorities to act swiftly and transparently to uphold these democratic principles and respect the rights of all people to engage in peaceful protest without fear of arrest or repression.
Yours sincerely,
RóisÃn McAleer
(Social Rights Ireland)
Bartosz Bieszczad
14 May 2026
