IJM Kenya seeks justice for human rights violations

In a landmark move for police accountability in Kenya, last week IJM Kenya filed a Public Interest Litigation case seeking justice for 28 victims and survivors of police brutality.

These men and women participated in protests over rising living costs and government grievances in 2023. Among them, nine were killed while 19 survivors are nursing life-threatening injuries.

The case seeks to hold state agents accountable for using excessive force, including the Inspector General of Police, the National Police Service, the Attorney General, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

IJM filed the case jointly with the Law Society of Kenya, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Katiba Institute, and Amnesty International.

The litigation is supported by robust evidence collected in collaboration with community partners and civil society organizations, including videos, medical reports, and eyewitness testimonies.

The recurring human rights violations during protests highlight systemic issues within Kenya. The survivors believe that failure to secure accountability for them would set a dangerous precedent, effectively encouraging law enforcement to resort to violence whenever Kenyans exercise their right to peaceful protests.

The survivors are hoping to establish a legal precedent that protects citizens from future acts of brutality, ensure adherence to constitutional rights during protests and receive compensation for the harm they suffered.

We believe that justice delayed is justice denied, and we are determined to ensure that these survivors’ voices are heard and police brutality is deterred.

Learn more about IJM’s work to stop police abuse of power in Kenya >>