NAIROBI, Kenya- The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has released a damning report detailing human rights violations between June and November 2024.
From arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances to the grim aftermath of the Shakahola cult murders, the findings paint a sobering picture of the nation’s struggles with justice and accountability.
KNCHR Vice Chairperson Raymond Nyeris revealed that 1,376 arbitrary arrests and 610 injuries were reported during anti-Finance Bill protests, with the majority inflicted by security officers on demonstrators.
Twenty-five injuries, however, were caused by protesters targeting law enforcement officers.
Adding to the distressing statistics, 74 cases of enforced disappearances were reported, leaving 26 people unaccounted for. Nyeris warned that such abductions and killings echo Kenya’s dark past.
Journalists also faced violence, with 24 injuries documented by the Media Council of Kenya. Harassment by police, citizens, and politicians further underscored the risks media professionals face while on duty.
The Commission highlighted the chilling Shakahola cult murders, which claimed 448 lives. Statements from the investigation indicate that 600 people remain missing, raising concerns about the full extent of the tragedy.
Nyeris emphasized the urgent need for accountability, calling for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance to criminalize enforced disappearances in Kenya.
Corruption, according to Nyeris, remains the biggest obstacle to upholding human rights in Kenya.
He called for the government to lead by example in tackling graft and ensuring perpetrators of extrajudicial killings are brought to justice.
The Commission criticized the profiling of 16 public benefit organizations accused of opposing the Finance Bill, labeling it unconstitutional and a violation of the Public Benefits Organization Act 2013.
To combat abuses, the KNCHR urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate and prosecute officers implicated in these violations.
Kenya’s path forward hinges on its ability to protect its citizens and uphold the rule of law—a responsibility that cannot be compromised.
