Lupita Makes Chilling Verdict About Current Kenyan Government

This past week in a hard-hitting interview with the BBC, Lupita Nyong'o expressed deep concern about the political climate under President William Ruto, drawing stark comparisons to the dark days of former President Daniel Arap Moi's regime.

The actress who rarely speaks on politics likened the current government's tactics to the repression of dissent, political disappearances, and misuse of state institutions that were rampant during Moi's era.

"It is chilling to know that this government is resorting to tactics I thought were left behind," Lupita stated, stressing the unsettling parallels between today's Kenya and the oppressive regime of Moi.

Lupita's personal connection to that era runs deep. She was born in Mexico, where her parents had sought asylum after fleeing political persecution under Moi's rule.

Her family was deeply affected by the political climate of the 1980s, particularly by the disappearance of her uncle, who was a fierce activist against the repressive government.

“We were not allowed to open the curtains, go to school, or keep any of his writings,” Lupita recalled, referencing the fear and isolation her family experienced when they were being closely monitored by Moi’s government.

Her uncle’s body was never recovered, and his family believes he was killed for his activism. In the wake of recent protests in Kenya under President Ruto’s regime, Lupita spoke about the ongoing disappearances, with some families still searching for their loved ones, while others have been reunited with family members who spent days in captivity.

These events have hit close to home for Lupita whose father is the current Kisumu governor, evoking memories of her own family’s tragic experience during Moi’s presidency.

Reflecting on the state of Kenya’s democracy, she remarked, "The more things change, the more they stay the same... I don’t know how this story ends," underscoring her concern for the future.