Morara Kebaso takes a break from activism

Lawyer and political activist Morara Kebaso has announced that he is stepping back from politics and activism to reassess his approach and find better ways to engage with his supporters.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Kebaso expressed frustration with some of his supporters, noting that while they are vocal online, they fail to stand by him in difficult times. He explained that this shortfall has prompted him to rethink his strategy for mobilising his base.

"I am taking a short break to re-strategise. I have a challenge that needs to be addressed. Many of my supporters cheer me on online, but they don't show up when I'm in trouble. I need to find a better way to ensure that my loyal supporters stand by me when I'm under attack," Mr Kebaso said.

He also highlighted the increased pressure he's been under, saying the authorities have become more strategic in targeting him. 

"The attacks have intensified and the police are getting smarter. They choose moments when major events are taking place so that their actions go unnoticed".

The decision comes after Mr Kebaso has faced several challenges recently. He has been arrested twice in recent weeks on what his supporters say are trumped-up charges.

In the first instance, he was charged with cyber harassment, but the case was quickly dismissed when the main accuser, David Langat, denied involvement in the complaint.

During a public participation session on the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the Bomas of Kenya, Mr Kebaso was attacked by some delegates and denied the opportunity to speak.

In response, he released a video days later expressing concern that a National Intelligence Service (NIS) mole had infiltrated his inner circle.

He linked this suspicion to a series of unusual incidents, including a car accident in Embu where his team discovered that the vehicle involved was not registered to an individual but to a non-existent company.

In the same video, Mr Kebaso revealed that he had begun to take his security more seriously, as details of his movements were often leaked, leading to damaging incidents. He believes the mole is someone close to him, citing an attempt to poison his food as further evidence.

He called on Kenyans to report any suspicious activity by his team, assuring them that he would thoroughly vet each member to remove any untrustworthy individuals.

He also appealed for financial support from his followers to help cover the cost of private security, which he admitted was becoming increasingly expensive.

Most recently, just a day ago, Mr Kebaso was arrested again, this time for causing a public disturbance by shouting “Kufa Dereva Kufa Makanga” during the incident at Bomas when he was attacked.

As he takes this break, he is focusing on finding a way to strengthen his support base and ensure that those who stand with him online also have his back in real life confrontations.