As Kenya approaches a critical electoral period, concerns over police abuse and the erosion of civic freedoms are becoming increasingly urgent. Despite constitutional guarantees, many young people continue to face violence and repression when exercising their rights, reflecting a troubling pattern of impunity. Drawing on recent cases and the findings of the Missing Voices 2025 report, this piece examines the scale of the crisis and calls for accountability, justice, and sustained collective action.
I remember the days leading up to the Gen Z demonstration of 2024 against the proposed Finance Bill, then and their 2025 anniversary, both marked at the hands of those meant to protect us. Like many Kenyans, I was exercising my constitutional rights. Yet despite public outcry, police abuse persists.
This persistence is not abstract; it is the painful reality of many youths in Kenya. At the launch of the Missing Voices 2025 report, even cases of abuse were being documented and shared, and another life was lost to police violence in Laikipia County on the same day. This underscores the troubling reality: accountability remains elusive, even in moments meant to demand it.
There have, however, been important, if limited, steps towards Justice. Cases documented by the coalition have begun to reach courts, including the ongoing prosecution of the notorious killer cop, Ahmed Rashid, famously known as “Mathare’s Merchant Of Death”. Such developments signal progress, but they remain expectations in systems where impunity remains the norm, and hundreds of cases go unsolved.
This is not an isolated pattern. Let's consider the tragic death of Ian Mtai, who was killed by police during student protests over administrative inaction following an earlier incident at Subukia Falls. Five more students were shot. These incidents reflect a broader national crisis where extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances continue, with little improvement in citizen safety.
The 131 incidents detailed in the Missing Voices 2025 report paint a consistent and alarming picture: dissent is too often met with force, and the very institutions meant to ensure public safety instead undermine it. In response, the coalition has committed to strengthening documentation efforts not just as a record of abuse, but as a tool to deter violations and push for accountability.
But documentation alone is not enough. Advocacy, while critical, must be matched with the victim-centred approaches that place survivors and affected families at the forefront. Initiatives such as those in the Mothers of Victims and Survivor Network demonstrate the power of collective action. An approach that ensures that the most affected are not only heard but actively shaping the purpose of justice.
As Kenya looks ahead to the 2027 elections, the urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. Periods of political consternation in Kenya have historically coincided with heightened state repression, raising critical questions: will freedom of speech, assembly, and peaceful protest be protected or curtailed? Safeguarding these rights as guaranteed by the Constitution is not an option, but a fundamental right of any democracy.
The Missing Voices report 2025 serves as both a warning and a call to action. It reminds us that without sustained vigilance, the cycle of abuse will continue unchecked. The presence of coalition members and survivors from across the country at the report's launch demonstrated that unified efforts and solidarity can drive meaningful change, but only if sustained.
Moving forward, silence cannot be an option. Every violation must be documented, and every voice must count. Encouraging those around us in our communities and families to speak up and stand together strengthens collective action and increases the pressure for accountability.
Looking at recent election trends in neighbouring countries, Tanzania and Uganda, the risk of increased state suppression is clear. Kenya must not follow this dangerous path, before, during or after the 2027 elections. Instead, it must continue to uphold its constitutional commitments and continue to be a regional example in protecting human rights.
Much has been said, but far more must be done. If not confronted decisively, the abuse of power can result in further escalation by 2-27. Accountability must not wait for another life to be lost