NAIROBI,Kenya - As Kenya begins the countdown to the 2027 General Elections, concerns are growing over the continued use of political violence, hired gangs and intimidation to influence civic and electoral processes. At the National Multi-Stakeholder Convening on Political Goonism and Hired Violence, participants called for urgent action to address the systems and failures that allow violence and impunity to persist.
Speaking during the convening, the Missing Voices Coalition challenged duty bearers and the security apparatus to become paragons of peace and to move beyond commitments and discussions towards meaningful action.
The call comes at a critical time for Kenya. Political violence has, over the years, taken different forms, including the deployment of organised groups to intimidate opponents, disrupt public gatherings, attack demonstrators and silence citizens. As the country prepares for the 2027 elections, there is growing concern that the normalisation of such practices could undermine democratic participation and expose more Kenyans to human rights violations.
During a session on mapping political goonism and Kenya’s legal and institutional architecture, Missing Voices shared data on documented cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, drawing attention to the devastating human cost of violence and the urgent need for accountability.
As of July 2026, Missing Voices had documented 59 cases of extrajudicial killings and 18 cases of enforced disappearances. These figures serve as a stark reminder that serious human rights violations continue to affect individuals, families and communities across Kenya.
For Missing Voices, these are not simply statistics. Behind every documented case is a person whose rights have been violated, a family seeking answers and justice, and a community living with the consequences of violence.
The discussion at the convening examined how gaps in Kenya’s legal and institutional framework, weak enforcement and persistent impunity can create an environment in which violence flourishes. When perpetrators are not investigated or held accountable, communities lose trust in institutions and victims and their families are left searching for truth and justice.
Missing Voices works to document cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Kenya, preserve evidence, amplify the voices of victims and affected families, and advocate for justice and accountability.
Through its documentation and advocacy work, the coalition seeks to ensure that cases of serious human rights violations are not forgotten or buried in silence. The data collected helps to identify patterns, highlight areas of concern and inform advocacy for institutional, legal and policy reforms.
A central part of the work is amplifying the voices of families who are often left to navigate the painful search for missing loved ones or pursue justice following unlawful killings. By creating space for victims and communities to tell their stories, Missing Voices continues to challenge the culture of silence and impunity surrounding these violations.
The coalition also engages duty bearers, oversight institutions, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to push for independent and effective investigations, accountability for perpetrators and reforms aimed at preventing future violations.
This work becomes particularly important in periods of heightened political tension. Elections and civic processes must never become a justification for violence, unlawful policing, enforced disappearances or the silencing of dissent.
The National Multi-Stakeholder Convening underscored the need to strengthen Kenya’s institutions and ensure that laws designed to protect citizens are effectively implemented. Participants examined the gaps that continue to allow political goonism, hired violence and human rights violations to persist and called for greater coordination and accountability.
Kenya cannot afford to normalise violence as part of its political culture. As the country approaches the 2027 General Elections, institutions responsible for protecting the public must act impartially and decisively. Security agencies must uphold the law and protect the rights of all citizens. Political actors must reject the use of violence and organised groups to advance political interests. Perpetrators of human rights violations must be investigated and held accountable.
Most importantly, every Kenyan must be able to participate in civic and electoral processes without fear.
The path to peaceful and credible elections cannot be built on statements alone. It requires action, accountability and a collective commitment to protect human rights. Through continued documentation, advocacy and engagement with affected families and institutions, Missing Voices will continue to shine a light on violations and demand justice for victims.
As Kenya moves closer to 2027, the challenge is not only to prevent violence on election day. It is to build a political culture in which violence, intimidation, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have no place, and where every life is protected, every violation is investigated and every victim has a pathway to justice.
