NAIROBI, Kenya – Most of the 97 Kenyans killed by police in the past year were shot from behind, indicating widespread unlawful use of lethal force during protests and routine operations, a new report by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) shows.
Released on Wednesday to mark International Human Rights Day, the annual report reveals that three out of five victims were unarmed and fleeing when they were fatally shot — a finding that rights groups say underscores a deepening crisis of policing and accountability in the country.
According to IMLU, a majority of deaths occurred during public demonstrations where police fired live ammunition into crowds, hitting young protesters who were attempting to escape the chaos.
“We have documented cases where protesters were shot as they ran for safety. They had their backs turned, they were retreating, yet the police still fired at them. Shooting a fleeing protester shows a total disregard for life,”
IMLU Executive Director Grace Wangechi said.
Using forensic analysis, witness accounts, nationwide monitoring and medico-legal documentation, IMLU verified 97 extrajudicial killings, 18 deaths in custody, 72 cases of torture or ill-treatment, 49 protest-related injuries, more than 1,500 arbitrary arrests and five enforced disappearances.
Wangechi cautioned that the numbers likely represent only a fraction of the real scale due to intimidation of victims, fear of reporting, and obstruction of evidence collection.
Named victims highlight grim trend
Among those fatally shot was Elvis Musave, killed in Kangemi during the July 7 Saba Saba protests as he attempted to help another demonstrator.
In Kasarani, Evans Kiche was shot while fleeing a police raid at a gathering in honour of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
IMLU monitoring and evaluation officer Stephen Outa Mukoya said a clear pattern emerged during the June 9 and June 25, 2024 demonstrations, as well as Saba Saba — pointing to “systematic targeting” of unarmed civilians.
“More than 60 per cent of all recorded violations occurred in Nairobi, making the capital the epicentre of the State’s clampdown on free expression,” he said. “Rather than protection, protesters are increasingly criminalised.”
Mukoya added that activists and peaceful demonstrators are now being charged under anti-terrorism laws, a trend he warned is eroding due process and stifling civic participation.
Media under pressure, minors abused
The report also warns of shrinking media freedoms, citing cases of arrests, intimidation and interference with journalists’ work, undermining public oversight of security agencies.
IMLU documented continued custodial torture, including the abuse of minors. One case involved 17-year-old Felix Senet Takona, who suffered severe burns and injuries allegedly inflicted by police in Naroosura, Narok.
Impunity persists
IMLU’s technical lead for advocacy, Simon Malenya, criticised the continued deployment of hooded officers in unmarked vehicles despite a court directive requiring police to be identifiable during operations.
He said monitors are increasingly surveilled and barred from collecting evidence — a sign of growing hostility toward accountability efforts.
Kenya’s deteriorating human rights record has drawn global scrutiny. During the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May, the country received 303 recommendations from member states on how to address rights violations.
Wangechi said the scale of concerns raised internationally reflects the gravity of the situation.
