Appeal for the release of Greek professor Dimitris Patelis, arrested in Kenya

Kenya has become the center of international political tension following the arrest of members of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform in Nairobi.

The arrest of thirteen individuals — among them Dimitris Patelis, a professor at the Technical University of Crete — took place during protests against the “Africa Forward” Summit, triggering strong reactions and official accusations of repression of democratic freedoms in the country.

According to an official statement by the World Anti-Imperialist Platform, reported by Agonas Kritis, Kenyan authorities violently suppressed a lawful gathering and march opposing the Africa-France Summit. Authorities reportedly deployed military forces to disperse the demonstration, leading to a total of 13 arrests.

Among those detained, besides Dimitris Patelis, are prominent figures of the international progressive movement, including Lee Sang-hun, former representative of the People’s Democracy Party of South Korea; Joti Brar, representative of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist); and Song Dan-bi, director of the International Department of the People’s Democracy Party. The Platform described the arrests as “illegal and fascist,” accusing the government of President William Ruto of authoritarianism.

The “Africa Forward” Summit and the geopolitical stakes

The protest was organized in opposition to the “Africa Forward” Summit, which activists describe as a mechanism for further imperialist penetration into the African continent. The World Anti-Imperialist Platform argues that Kenya is becoming a strategic outpost for Western powers, especially after being designated by the United States in 2024 as a “major non-NATO ally.”

In its analysis, the organization claims that Kenya is now serving as a new base for French forces recently expelled from Sahel countries, while also highlighting the continued presence of British troops in the country. At the same time, it links Kenya’s economic dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to intensified exploitation of the country’s resources and population.

The climate of internal repression in Kenya

The statement emphasizes that the recent arrests are part of a broader wave of violence that has shaken the country since June 2024. President Ruto’s government is accused of violently suppressing mass demonstrations against neoliberal policies, which have reportedly resulted in the confirmed deaths of more than 130 people, while hundreds of others are said to be missing or allegedly killed.

Special mention is made of CPMK General Secretary Booker Omole, who, according to the statement, has been subjected to intimidation, unlawful detention, and torture in the months leading up to the summit.

The Platform warns that the rise of fascist methods internationally is acting as an “agent of imperialist aggression” during a period of escalating global conflicts.