Cases in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania raise fear of regional trend

Cases of repression in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have fuelled concerns about possible collaboration.

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Critics fear that it is sliding down the path of her neighbours - Uganda and Tanzania, both of which are notorious for cracking down on dissent.

Kenya's laws are widely regarded as being more progressive - particularly in protecting fundamental freedoms like the right to protest.

But Kenya has witnessed an increasing crackdown on protests - the latest example being the killing of at least 10 people in nationwide demonstrations against President William Ruto's government while it attempted to ban live TV and radio coverage of the protests.

"Rogue Regime" - declared the headline of Kenya's respected Standard newspaper as it pointed out that young people had flooded the streets in defiant remembrance of those gunned down a year ago in mass anti-tax demonstrations but "Instead of a listening ear they were met with razor wire, armoured trucks and the cold grip of repression".