Human Rights in Kenya

Kenya has been placed on the list of perpetrators of global human rights organizations due to several documented violations and concerns. Kenya has been placed on the watch list of the CIVICUS Monitor, a global civil liberties consortium, due to a rapid decline in respect for civil liberties, particularly following the government's response to the 2024 and 2025 protests. Kenya has been noted for excessive use of force by the police. During the anti-finance bill protests on June 25 and July 7, 2024, police used lethal force, resulting in over 60 deaths and hundreds more injuries (numbers vary). The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and Amnesty International documented disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters, including live ammunition and tear gas. Security forces, especially the police, have been accused of unlawful killings and enforced disappearances, particularly in marginalized areas and during protests. Cases such as the 2017 post-election violence and the crackdown on opposition demonstrations have drawn international criticism. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have reported extrajudicial executions in connection with counterterrorism operations and the fight against crime. Arbitrary arrests and abductions continued. The Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR) reported 1,300 arbitrary arrests and 74 abductions between July and August. Between 2023 and November 2024, attacks targeted activists, journalists, and protesters. Notable cases include the abduction of blogger Billy Simani and veteran Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye. Abuses in counterterrorism operations have occurred. Security operations against groups such as al-Shabaab have led to allegations of arbitrary arrests, torture, and killings, particularly against ethnic Somalis in northeastern Kenya. Kenya is a prime example of how dissent can be suppressed. The government has been accused of criminalizing civic engagement through harassment, intimidation, and censorship. For example, the arrest of web developer Rose Njeri for creating a civic engagement platform and the profiling of 16 non-profit organizations for allegedly funding protests point to a strategy to silence critics. The government has also been accused of suppressing dissent, including through the use of live ammunition against demonstrators (e.g., during the 2024 government protests against high living costs and tax increases). Journalists and activists have been harassed, arrested, and intimidated. Digital surveillance and restrictions are in place. CIVICUS cited plans by the Criminal Investigation Department to acquire surveillance tools such as Optimus 3.0 and a January 2025 directive requiring social media companies to open offices in Kenya. These measures are viewed as attempts to restrict online use. Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are a major problem in Kenya. The KNCHR and other organizations reported 104 extrajudicial killings and 72 enforced disappearances in 2024, including the death of teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody. Accountability Civil society's space is restricted. Kenya's CIVICUS rating is "closed," indicating severe restrictions on civil society's space. Civil society organizations are subject to government interference, the media is pro-government, and online activities are tightly monitored, impairing freedom of expression and assembly. Corruption is rampant and accountability is lacking. Weak judicial prosecution of human rights violations by state actors fosters impunity. High-profile corruption scandals divert resources from public services and exacerbate poverty and inequality. Forced evictions and land rights violations also occur. Indigenous communities (e.g., Sengwer, Maasai) have been forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, often for government projects or conservation efforts, without adequate compensation. These violations, particularly during the Finance Bill 2024 protests and subsequent demonstrations, have drawn international criticism, including from US and European diplomatic missions, as they violate Kenya's 2010 Constitution. Other countries on the watch list include the United States, Turkey, Indonesia, Serbia, and El Salvador, highlighting a global trend of declining civil liberties. The government's response in Kenya has been weak. Kenyan officials frequently deny systematic human rights violations and attribute the incidents to "rogue officers." 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