Press release July 26, 2015
Obama Stresses Role of Kenyan Civil Society
Freedom House welcomes President Obama highlighting the important role of civil society in Kenya.
Washington
In response to President Obama's remarks on July 26 during his visit to Kenya, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“Freedom House welcomes President Obama highlighting the important role of civil society in Kenya,” said Mark P. Lagon, president of Freedom House. “We are pleased the president addressed the Kenyan government’s efforts to introduce restrictive NGO legislation. He can and should continue to be an advocate for the role of civil society during his visit to Ethiopia, where the government’s repression of expression and pluralism undercut its value as a U.S. partner on counter-terrorism.”
Background:
President Obama’s remarks are available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/07/26/remarks-presiden… and
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/07/26/remarks-presiden…;
Kenya is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2015, Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2015, and Free in Freedom on the Net 2014.