The United States government has expressed concerns about the deterioration of human rights in Kenya in response to nationwide protests. The 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices indicates that significant human rights issues included credible reports of unlawful killings, disappearances, torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Additionally, the report indicates that there were arbitrary arrests or detention, transnational repression against individuals in another country, and restrictions on freedom of expression against individuals in another country. Also included were severe restrictions on media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists and censorship, and a significant presence of forms of child labour.

The report notes that the government took steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses; however, impunity persisted at all levels of government. The annual Country Reports in Human Rights Practices, also known as the Human Rights Reports, cover the status of internationally recognised human rights and worker rights.

The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all countries receiving assistance and all United Nations Member States to the U.S. Congress under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.

The report follows the July 2025 Issue of the Amnesty Kenya Gazette, which indicated that July was marked by courage, crisis, and constitutional reckoning.

Amnesty Kenya reported that this was a result of Kenyans taking to the streets in 20 counties to commemorate Saba Saba and demand accountability. However, Kenyans were met with excessive force, mass arrests, and grave human rights violations, which resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people and the charging of hundreds under laws meant for terrorism and capital offences.

“We witnessed disturbing attacks on peaceful gatherings, erosion of judicial independence, misuse of digital surveillance, and targeted intimidation of human rights defenders. Yet, amid the repression, citizens, civil society, and justice actors stood firm,” the body stated.

Besides the troubling human rights concerns, the Kenyan government is also on the U.S. radar over its growing diplomatic blunders. Additionally, Kenya’s links to non-state armed groups and violent extremist organisations (such as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF)) as well as the government’s perceived global alignments with China, Russia and Iran, are also under scrutiny.

The United States Senate ordered a sweeping review of Kenya’s recently conferred Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, citing urgent concerns over alleged ties with adversary states and the potential misuse of US military and intelligence support.

A MNNA is a designation given by the U.S. government to countries that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. Armed Forces, while not being members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). 

The directive was introduced via Amendment S.Amdt.3628, authored by Senator James Risch (R-Idaho), and forms part of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026.

The amendment, now part of the Congressional Record, mandates that the U.S. Secretary of State, along with the Secretaries of Defence and Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence, conduct a comprehensive classified review within 180 days.

The amendment focuses on multiple areas of concern that have put Kenya’s upgraded strategic position under intense scrutiny.