Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has weighed in on the sentencing of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, using the development to spark a broader discussion on leadership accountability in East Africa.
Amisi issued the remarks on X shortly after an international tribunal in Dhaka handed Hasina a death sentence for crimes committed during her final year in power.
In his post, the MP described the ruling as proof that leaders can be held responsible for state-sanctioned abuses.
He added that what Tanzania or other regional governments choose to take from the verdict is their own decision, but he urged Kenyans to reflect on their country’s democratic path, saying “Kenya needs a renaissance.”
Sheikh Hasina, who led Bangladesh for 15 years, was convicted in absentia after fleeing the country during political unrest.
International media reports state that the tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity, including authorising lethal force against protesters during a wave of demonstrations in 2024.
Prosecutors argued that her administration used excessive force, while her legal team dismissed the process as politically driven.
Amisi’s comments come at a time when Kenya continues to debate the role of institutions in checking executive authority.
Since the return of multiparty politics in the 1990s, questions over accountability have remained central to Kenya’s political landscape, from election management to handling of security operations during periods of public unrest.
The MP’s statement taps into this long-running conversation, suggesting that international examples can shape how citizens evaluate local governance.
The Bangladesh ruling has drawn varied reactions globally, with human rights groups calling for transparency and supporters of the former premier criticizing the tribunal’s legitimacy.
Despite the divided views, the decision represents a rare instance of a former head of government receiving the maximum penalty for actions taken while in office.