According to the sources cited, the latest political developments in Kenya have reportedly involved government harassment and public denunciation of anyone openly in favour of a switch from a single to a multi-party system. In particular, such prominent political figures as former Cabinet Ministers Kenneth Matimba and Charles Rubia have been targeted for spearheading the call for changes to the constitution (Africa Events, July 1990, p.9). Matimba was reportedly detained and had his passport confiscated for questioning following his criticism of the one-party system (The African Letter, June 16-30 1990, p. 7, p.12.). On 13 June 1990 his home was raided by fifteen armed men in what some suggest was a tactic aimed at intimidating him (Africa Events, July 1990, p.9). Similarly, Charles Rubia was also detained by police and questioned on May 9,1990 (Globe and Mail, May 10,1990, p.A9.).

People openly calling for a change in the government are known to have been arrested and charged with sedition (Africa Events, July 1990, p.9). Another source indicates that Kenya's press, the Law Society of Kenya and the churches are often the subject of the government's intolerance to criticism of its policies and practices (The African Letter, December 1-15, 1989, p.1). It has been reported that a major crackdown on lawyers has occurred due to their active role in criticizing such things as the government's human rights record and the electoral process (The African Letter, June 1-15, 1989, p.1). This crackdown comes in the form of the detention of various prominent Law Society members and a new law which forces lawyers to seek a yearly licence in order to practice (The African Letter, June 1-15, 1989, p.1).

Bibliography

- "A Critical Magazine Faces Threat of a Banning Order", The African Letter, Toronto, 16-30 April 1990.

- Abdalla, Abdilatif, "Who Killed Ouko?", Africa Events. Scarborough, March 1990.

- Abdalla, Abdilatif, "Fingers of Discord", Africa Events, Scarborough, July 1990.

- Amnesty International Urgent Action, "Unfair trail/Prisoner of conscience", London, 5 april 1990.
- "Arrestation", Le Devoir, 22 June 1990.

- IRBDC-HQ

WEEKLY PRESS SUMMARY, "Ex-minister queried on his political views", The Globe and Mail,Toronto, 10 May 1990.

- "Crackdown on Lawyers", The African Letter, Toronto, 1-15 June 1989.

- "Criticism Grows as Kenya Hosts Bar Conference", The African Letter, Toronto, 16-30 June 1990.

- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-095-S), 16 May 1990.
- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-095-S), 19 May 1990.

- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-114), 13 June 1990.

- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-115), 14 June 1990.

- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-097), 18 May 1990.

- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-118), 19 June 1990.

- Foreign Broadcast Information Service. (FBIS-AFR-90-125), 28 June 1990.

- "Emeutes au Kenya", Le Devoir, 24 February 1990.

- "Kenya Government Ban on Newspapers Criticized", The African Letter, Toronto, 16-30 December 1989.

For further information on the political situation and the government's response to the latest demands for more democracy by the press and the church, please refer to the excerpts from the documents cited in the bibliography as well as the documents listed below.

- "An Arrest in Kenya", The Washington Post, 18 July 1990.

- "Foe of Kenya's Leader Said to Flee to London", The New York Times, 13 July 1990.

- "5 More Reported Killed in Kenya Unrest", The New York Times, 10 July 1990.

- "Kenya Protests U.S. Refuge For Dissident; Police, Rioters Clash; Five reported Killed", The Washington Post, 10 July 1990.

- "Crackdown in Kenya Strains Ties With U.S.; Congress to Review Foreign Aid to Nairobi", The Washington Post, 9 July 1990.

- "Democracy Rally Crushed in Kenya",The New York Times, 8 July 1990.

- "Violence Mars Protest in Kenya", The Washington Post, 7 July 1990.

- "2 Leading Foes of One-Party Rule Are Reported Arrested by Kenya", The New York Times, 5 July 1990.

- "Nairobi Journal; An Envoy Who Starts Fires to Get Things Started", The New York Times, 11 May 1990.

- "U.S. Envoy Steps Into Political Firestorm in Kenya", The New York Times, 5 May 1990.

- "The Death of Kenya's Foreign Minister", The Washington Post, 6 April 1990.