A new report by the Police Reforms Working Group — an alliance of local and international human rights organizations including Amnesty International — has painted a grim picture of how recent protests across Kenya have been handled.
The report, released Tuesday, accuses law enforcement of widespread brutality and misconduct, stating that demonstrations were “marred by state violence, unlawful policing tactics.”
According to the findings, researchers documented the use of live bullets against peaceful demonstrators, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests.
The report directly implicates individuals believed to be police officers, saying there is compelling evidence of serious violations, including the killing of civilians.
Over 500 individuals — both civilians and law enforcement officers — were injured during the unrest, according to the group.
The National Police Service, however, dismissed the claims, with a spokesperson telling AFP the accusations were driven by a “false narrative.”
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen addressed the issue during a press briefing Tuesday, promising that any abuses committed by officers would be investigated thoroughly.
READ ALSO: Kenya Protests Turn Violent as Armed Gangs, Police Clash
“There is no law that excuses a police officer to commit crimes or kill people,” Murkomen stated. He further pledged to release a new policy directive this Friday to clarify rules around police use of force and firearms.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry revealed that more than 1,500 people were detained over the course of the two most recent demonstrations. Of those, 71 were taken into custody by the anti-terrorism police unit.
The protests also triggered a wave of looting and property damage, forcing many businesses to shut their doors as fears of violence kept employees at home.
The economic toll is significant — the report estimates losses potentially reaching 1.1 billion Kenyan Shillings (around $14 million), though it offered little detail on the methodology behind the figure.
As public outrage grows and pressure mounts on authorities to reform, the nation finds itself grappling with deepening divides — between citizens demanding justice and a state accused of silencing dissent with deadly force.