Indian Marxist historian and pan-African commentator, Vijay Prashad, has narrated his ordeal at the hands of Kenyan police after he joined a peaceful protest in Kenya against French influence in Africa.

Speaking on Pan African TV on May 23, 2026, Prashad alleged that police officers targeted his knees during the arrest in an attempt to immobilise him before detaining him and several others for nearly three days.

“I was walking with my hands up in the air but my knee was a threat to Kenyan society and the police officer repeatedly smashed my knee with his rod,” he recounted.

According to him, police also fired tear gas at demonstrators and arrested several activists who had gathered to protest during the France–Africa (Africa Forward) Summit in Nairobi.

Prashad was arrested on May 12, 2026, alongside other activists during a counter-demonstration near the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

The group had attempted to march to the summit venue to protest what they described as French neo-colonialism and foreign interference in African affairs.

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He claimed some foreign activists were threatened with deportation while detainees were held for almost 80 hours.

The historian also criticised African leaders who attended the summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
“This was all happening while Emmanuel Macron was with several leaders of African countries and Emmanuel Macron in that gathering declares that we are the true Pan-Africanists and African heads of government clapped for him,” he said.

Prashad further accused some African leaders of enabling continued foreign dominance on the continent, singling out Kenyan President William Ruto in his remarks.

“France continues to be a colonial power on the African continent and has had a long history of ugly colonization,” he added.

VPO