Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
“When journalists are silenced, citizens lose access to information. When civil society is intimidated, communities lose channels for participation and accountability, and when dissent is criminalised, democracy itself is weakened,” she said.
In a statement issued by its chairperson, Claris Ogangah, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the commission warned that the influx was placing significant pressure on host communities and available resources, including food, clean water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare.
Data from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) shows that 1,815 claims of human rights violations linked to protests were documented, with 1,101 victims verified across six categories for possible compensation.
The commission said many older people continued to face poverty, neglect, violence, discrimination, inadequate social protection and limited access to health services and justice.
Samburu County MPs Pauline Lenguris and Dominic Letipila have demanded an independent investigation into reports that a security operation in Waso Ward left civilians injured and hundreds of livestock dead, calling for accountability and support for affected families.
In a statement on Sunday, the commission said the incidents were threatening Kenyans’ right to life, security, freedom of movement and political participation, warning that these rights must be protected before they are violated.
KNCHR chairperson Claris Ogangah made the appeal on Thursday, September 10, 2026, during World Suicide Prevention Day, saying the country must move towards helping people facing mental health distress instead of subjecting them to punishment.
In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said enforcement must be based on individual legal violations and called for due process, protection of vulnerable migrants and refugees, and investigations into reported cases of threats, intimidation and discrimination.
The extension comes after the panel had already processed 680 legitimate claims and paid Sh896.1 million to victims by August, including people affected by demonstrations and public protests.
The Commission said it was especially concerned by reports of deaths during the strike, with maternal, neonatal and perinatal cases among those reported.
In a statement marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the commission said enforced disappearance places individuals “outside the protection of the law” and exposes them to serious violations, including torture and ill-treatment.
Njeru argued that lawmakers had sufficient warning that public anger was intensifying, but failed to reconsider the legislation or engage protesters in meaningful dialogue
The new office holder will take over from Bernard Mogesa and will serve for five years, with the possibility of one renewal. The position is based in Nairobi and comes with occasional travel, while the CEO will report directly to the Chairperson of KNCHR.
Wako argued that accountability should start before election day, with investigations targeting individuals who organise or finance violent groups rather than waiting until perpetrators seek elective office
Her remarks come after Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed claims that Kenya is facing a “goons crisis”, saying the country is safe and accusing politicians of exaggerating insecurity
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Ojode said unemployed young people could be mobilised to cause violence during political activities, while inflammatory statements by rival groups could create an environment in which confrontation becomes normal
The petitioners are challenging the exclusion of 35 verified victims of enforced disappearance from the government’s compensation and reparation programme for people affected by human rights violations.
The index recorded 1,292 protest events across the country between January 2025 and June 2026. Of these, 839 occurred during the whole of 2025, while 453 were recorded in the first six months of this year alone.
The Facilitation of Assembly, Picketing and Demonstration Bill, 2026 seeks to replace the current approach that has often seen demonstrations stopped because of disagreements over police notification.
KNCHR said the draft law was jointly developed with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and other stakeholders after a landmark High Court judgment delivered in Kisumu on March 19, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday, the commission expressed concern over what it described as a deteriorating electoral environment marked by violence, voter bribery, intimidation and other illegal activities that undermine constitutional democracy.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Sunday, Prof. Mutua said the process addresses a long-standing issue of violence and suffering linked to protests that has affected Kenyans for decades.
KNCHR urged affected families and members of the public to report such cases through its toll-free hotline, 0800720627, and seek assistance through a network of partner organisations offering legal, medical and psychosocial support.
Ang’ata Barikoi, for years, has been a hotspot of recurring land-related violence linked to long-standing disputes over large tracts of land in Trans Mara, Narok County
The panel said compensation is only being issued to victims who have completed the verification process and formally agreed to participate in the programme.
Speaking on Friday, as the world marked the International Day for the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence on June 19, transitional justice expert Christine Alai highlighted that thousands of victims of political and protest-related violence in Kenya continue to await recognition, support, and compensation despite enduring serious human rights violations
In a statement released on June 18,2026, the rights group said the framework marked “a significant milestone in Kenya’s ongoing pursuit of truth, justice, accountability, and reparations,” especially for victims of unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence and arbitrary arrests.
The families delivered their notice at Jogoo House on Thursday, where they called for the investigation, arrest and prosecution of those they say bear responsibility for the deaths, injuries and alleged abuses committed during the demonstrations.
Maraga also questioned the handling of the process, saying victims have not received a formal apology and raising concern that institutions linked to the alleged abuses are involved in managing compensation.
KHRC senior legal officer John Mundia Mundia acknowledged that compensation could provide some relief to affected families but argued that the larger issues of accountability and institutional reform risk being overlooked