NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has accused security agencies of committing serious human rights violations during and after the June 25, 2026 demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the Gen Z protests, citing cases of enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force and violations of media freedom.
In a statement released on Monday, KNCHR said it monitored the demonstrations under its constitutional mandate and has continued documenting and verifying reports of alleged abuses linked to the police response.
The Commission said it documented seven incidents of enforced disappearance involving peaceful protesters. According to KNCHR, six demonstrators — Boniface Mulinge Muteti, Elisha Ochieng Alam, Collins Otieno, Fredrick Ojiro, Christine Alubengo and Michael Ngige — were arrested outside Parliament on June 25 before allegedly being bundled into a police truck and taken to an undisclosed location.
KNCHR said efforts to trace them were unsuccessful because they were not booked at any police station, despite their arrest being witnessed during live television broadcasts.
The Commission said the six were later abandoned along Lang’ata Road and Ngong Road in the early hours of June 27 after allegedly being held in unknown locations, where they reported being tortured and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.
The Commission further reported another alleged enforced disappearance in Githurai involving an unidentified man, as well as the recovery of protester Davis Lichuma, who was reportedly found four days after his arrest and is currently receiving treatment in a Nairobi hospital.
It also raised concern over the continued disappearance of Macmillan Kiarie, Michael Oloo and Abdilaziz Duba, who were allegedly picked up by security agencies last week in Nairobi.
KNCHR said it documented the arrest of 361 people across Nairobi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Murang’a, Bungoma, Laikipia, Machakos, Meru, Nyeri, Nakuru and Nyamira counties. Among those arrested were 18 human rights defenders in Nairobi, Naivasha and Kajiado.
The Commission condemned what it described as the criminalisation of legitimate human rights work and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained solely for peacefully exercising their constitutional rights.
The Commission also expressed concern over the arrest of two freelance journalists who were covering the demonstrations and are reportedly being held at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, arguing that their detention undermines media freedom and the public’s right to information.
KNCHR further cited allegations of excessive force by police, including the reported assault of James Mungai, a person with disability who was participating in demonstrations in Nakuru, and the shooting of Ben Kamiti in Naivasha.
The Commission said any use of live ammunition against protesters requires prompt, independent and transparent investigations to establish whether the force used met constitutional and international legal standards.
The Commission also criticised widespread police roadblocks erected in Nairobi and several other counties, saying they unduly restricted freedom of movement and prevented many Kenyans from accessing workplaces, businesses and essential services despite government assurances that normal activities would continue.
It noted that looting and vandalism in areas including Kitengela and Githurai further disrupted livelihoods.
KNCHR additionally alleged that some officers deployed during the protests violated a court order requiring police policing demonstrations to remain identifiable by wearing official uniforms. It said it observed hooded and plain-clothed officers operating from unmarked vehicles in Nairobi, Kitengela, Mlolongo, Githurai and Ruiru, including armed officers allegedly firing indiscriminately toward protesters in Githurai.
The Commission called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the reported shooting incidents, ensure compliance with court orders governing public order policing, withdraw unidentified officers from protest operations and guarantee accountability for officers found responsible for violations.
It also urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to review all arrests arising from the demonstrations to ensure compliance with constitutional safeguards against arbitrary detention.
At the same time, KNCHR commended security officers who exercised restraint during the demonstrations, particularly in Mombasa, where it said no allegations of police excesses were reported. It also praised Kenyans who participated peacefully in the demonstrations in accordance with Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions peacefully.