𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚’𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝟏𝟓𝟗 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧!

^{By Felix Wanjala} .

The year 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most troubling in Kenya’s recent history when it comes to human rights. A new report by several rights groups shows a rise in police violence, especially during protests.

The report, called “Missing Voices,” says that 159 people have either gone missing under unclear circumstances or were killed by police this year—an increase from 128 cases in 2023.

Most of these deaths happened during anti-government protests in June and July. The report says people over 34 years old lost their lives, while 79 young people between 18 and 34 were killed. Even more heartbreaking, seven children under 18 also died.

The police watchdog IPOA is being blamed for failing to act against officers who broke the law. But IPOA says it’s the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that has delayed justice.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga is now calling on the international community to put pressure on the Kenyan government to stop these killings and abductions.