NAIROBI, Kenya — The High Court has awarded compensation to victims and survivors of the 2023 anti-government protests in Kisumu, holding the Inspector-General of Police and the National Police Service (NPS) liable for unlawful use of force in a judgment hailed as a major step toward accountability.
In its ruling on Petition E015/2024, the court found that police used excessive force against civilians during the March–July 2023 demonstrations, commonly known as Maandamano, which were sparked by the high cost of living.
The court ordered compensation ranging from Sh300,000 to Sh4.8 million for 28 victims who were either killed or seriously injured.
Presiding judge Alfred Mabeya ruled that the victims were entitled to redress for violations of their constitutional rights. “Having suffered death and various injuries through the deprivation of their rights and freedoms, they are entitled to compensation,” he said.
The court further directed the National Police Service to develop and publish clear guidelines on public order management and the use of force and firearms within 90 days.
The process will be supervised by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
According to evidence presented in court, police operations during the protests led to the deaths of nine people, including a child, and left at least 18 others with life-altering injuries. Survivors testified that officers used live ammunition, tear gas, and physical violence against unarmed civilians, sometimes entering homes and residential areas.
In a statement, International Justice Mission Kenya Country Director Vincent Chahale welcomed the ruling, calling it a validation of victims’ pursuit of justice. “For far too long, survivors have faced the disheartening reality of inaction from the State, but this decision signifies that their pursuit of justice is valid, essential, and more importantly, consequential,” he said.
The case was filed by survivors alongside the Law Society of Kenya (Kisumu Chapter), IJM, and other human rights organisations.
Notably, the Inspector-General and the NPS did not file any evidence to rebut the claims, a move the court said denied it the opportunity to understand the circumstances behind the violence.
Justice Mabeya observed that most victims were either fleeing or caught unaware when the force was applied, adding that the actions of police infringed on their rights to dignity and security as guaranteed under the Constitution.
The ruling comes against a broader backdrop of rising concerns over police conduct during protests. Data from the Missing Voices coalition indicates that 131 people were killed or disappeared in 2025, with more than half of those cases occurring during protest periods in June and July.
Chahale said the judgment sends a clear message that unlawful use of force must attract accountability. “Every life lost or harmed through unlawful police action must be fully investigated, and those responsible held to account,” he said, calling for independent investigations and accessible reporting mechanisms as directed by the court.
