NAIROBI, Kenya — A section of the Members of the Missing Voices Coalition have met with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, presenting the coalition’s 2025 Annual Report titled “Unbowed for Justice” and calling for urgent reforms to strengthen accountability, rebuild public trust, and ensure policing in Kenya is grounded in human rights, professionalism, and the rule of law.
The meeting brought together representatives from civil society organisations working on human rights, accountability, and justice, who engaged the Inspector General on the continued need for reforms within the National Police Service, particularly in relation to the management of public demonstrations, use of force, protection of human rights defenders, and accountability for police abuses.
During the engagement, the coalition emphasised the need for de-escalation rather than excessive force, dialogue rather than confrontation in managing protests, stronger community policing approaches, and decisive action against individuals or groups used to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.
The coalition noted that as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election, protecting constitutional freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and expression, will be critical in maintaining public trust and democratic stability.
MV Report Highlights
The 2025 Missing Voices Annual Report, “Unbowed for Justice,” documents 131 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances recorded during the year. Of these, 125 were cases of police killings, while six were cases of enforced disappearances.
The report highlights five key findings:
- Police killings increased by 20% compared to 2024
- Enforced disappearances declined sharply by 89% compared to 2024
- June and July were the deadliest months, accounting for more than half of all killings
- Nairobi remained the leading county for extrajudicial killings
- Young people, particularly young men, continued to bear the greatest burden of police violence
While the total number of documented violations declined by 17.6% compared to 2024, the increase in police killings remains a major concern. Cases rose from 104 killings in 2024 to 125 in 2025, pointing to persistent challenges regarding the use of force by law enforcement agencies.
The report notes that shootings remained the leading method used in police killings, accounting for 114 cases, raising concerns about compliance with national and international standards governing the use of firearms and force by security agencies.
The report identifies public demonstrations and periods of heightened civic action as moments when police violence significantly increases.
June and July 2025 accounted for 68 deaths, representing more than half (54%) of all documented police killings during the year. The findings reinforce a pattern observed in previous years where protests have been accompanied by heightened risks of excessive force and loss of life.
Nairobi County remained the deadliest county for extrajudicial killings for the fourth consecutive year, recording the highest number of cases compared to other counties.
The coalition warned that continued use of excessive force during demonstrations threatens constitutional freedoms and risks further eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
Youth Continue to Bear the Brunt of Police Violence
The report reveals that young people remained the most affected group, with persons aged between 19 and 35 years recording the highest number of victims.
The findings raise concerns about the safety of young Kenyans exercising their constitutional rights, particularly during protests and public demonstrations.
Men accounted for 90% of victims of police killings, highlighting persistent gendered patterns in cases involving excessive use of force by security agencies.
The report recorded a significant reduction in enforced disappearances, dropping from 55 cases in 2024 to six cases in 2025.
While the decline is welcomed, Missing Voices cautioned that the lack of a specific legal framework criminalising enforced disappearances continues to undermine justice for victims and their families.
The coalition reiterated the need for Kenya to enact legislation that specifically criminalises enforced disappearances, provides remedies and reparations for victims, and aligns with international human rights obligations, including the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Despite years of documentation and advocacy, the coalition noted that accountability for police violations remains limited.
The report highlights persistent challenges affecting oversight institutions, including resource constraints facing the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which have contributed to delays in investigations and prosecutions.
Missing Voices also raised concerns over shrinking civic space and increasing attacks against human rights defenders, journalists, and protesters, warning that these trends threaten Kenya’s democratic progress and commitment to the rule of law.
Missing Voices’ Calls for Action
During the engagement with the Inspector General of Police, the coalition reiterated key recommendations contained in the report, including:
- Urgent police reforms on crowd control and use of force to prevent deaths during protests and public gatherings.
- Proper documentation of all persons in police custody through police occurrence books to facilitate investigations into alleged enforced disappearances.
- Adequate resourcing of oversight institutions, including IPOA, to effectively investigate and prosecute police abuses.
- Expedited prosecution of extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance cases by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Strengthening of judicial systems to ensure timely resolution of police abuse cases and improve compliance with court orders, including habeas corpus applications.
- Operationalisation of the National Coroners Service Act and the Prevention of Torture Act to strengthen accountability mechanisms.
The meeting with the Inspector General formed part of broader efforts by Missing Voices and partner civil society organisations to promote accountable, neutral, and rights-respecting policing.
The coalition emphasised that sustainable public safety depends on restoring trust between communities and law enforcement agencies through professionalism, transparency, and respect for constitutional rights.
“As Kenya approaches the 2027 election period, rights, trust, accountability, and professionalism must guide policing in all contexts,” the coalition said.
Missing Voices remains committed to documenting human rights violations, amplifying the voices of affected families, and advocating for justice and accountability.
The coalition remains unbowed in the pursuit of justice.
