When in May one Rose Njeri, Kenyan software developer, unveiled a tool that simplifies public participation on the proposed 2025 budget, many expected her to be celebrated.

The mother of two had enabled ordinary Kenyans to have their say by emailing their feedback to Parliament.
The Kenyan regime instead arrested the civic innovator and put her in jail. What followed was a political persecution and online smear campaign against her.

Her efforts, like those of her peers who took physical and digital spaces demanding better governance from the ruling administration in what was popularly known as “Gen Z” demonstrations mid last year, were thwarted.
Estimated 60 young people were reportedly killed and nearly hundreds were abducted by Kenya’s security forces.

Across in Rwanda, one Moses Turahirwa, a star fashion designer credited for elevating Rwandan fashion onto the international stage who also earned accolades for mentoring young creatives, had been thrown in jail around the same time over his online criticism of the regime. He equally accused the ruling system for wrongly imprisoning his father and inhumane treatment.

Two more people — a comedian and a socialite — had come under fire over their opinions that challenged the official narrative, which they recanted, deleted and apologised when Rwandan security agencies moved to nab them.

But Mr. Turahirwa was bold. He had only voiced his views, a right guaranteed in the Rwandan laws. But like has been a pattern with expression of views that don’t please the Rwandan regime, he was arrested and prosecuted on vague charges of alleged drug use.

Today (11th September) marks his 143th day in jail with no access to visitors and legal services. His business seized and assets frozen. When his fate is finally sealed, he will join a long list of prisoners of conscience, including journalists, activists and opposition politicians, condemned to long jail terms for holding and airing views deemed critical of the country’s ruler Paul Kagame, his regime or its policies.

Scores, unfortunately, paid the ultimate price over the recent past. They include Ntwari John Williams (journalist), Kizito Mihigo (musician) and Innocent Bahati (poet). The latter was abducted and is missing to date.
Not only were they dissent voices silenced, but also talents, intellectuals, parents, philanthropists and educators eliminated.

Trend

But in the wider East Africa, it is the Tanzanian regime that lately sent shockwaves through the region when it meted out cruel treatment on scores of local civic leaders and citizens of other countries who legally entered the Tanzanian territory.

The ordeal of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire who were in May this year abducted, tortured and dumped at different borders after they travelled to Dar es Salaam to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu still shocks many.

It pointed to a general trend of autocratic regimes’ battle against their own people in the region and beyond, including in Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Cameroun where years of iron fist rules, coupled with quest to cling to power have seen leaders install the fear-based systems.

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It has given rise to blind obedience with ignorance fast becoming policy. Intellectuals who refuse to toe the line were, in instances, killed, sent to jail while others run away, resulting in considerable brain drain when taken together with the exodus driven by other poor governance related effects such as poverty and series of conflicts.

It is increasingly robing respective countries’ societies of the much-needed skills to meet development needs.