Kenya
Kenya is currently experiencing a period of significant human rights tension, particularly as the nation navigates the aftermath of the massive 2024–2025 "Gen Z" protests and a widening crackdown on digital dissent.
1. Police Brutality and Extrajudicial Killings
The most prominent human rights issue in Kenya as of 2026 is the conduct of the security forces, which has faced unprecedented international condemnation over the last two years.
Protest Fatalities: In response to the 2024 and 2025 protests against tax hikes and the cost of living, police used live ammunition against demonstrators. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Human Rights Watch recorded at least 100 deaths attributed to security forces in 2025 alone.
Enforced Disappearances: There has been a rise in "abductions" by suspected state agents using unmarked vehicles. Activists and protest organizers are often snatched off the streets and held incommunicado for days or weeks.
Lack of Accountability: Despite the creation of a compensation panel by the presidency in late 2025, the High Court later ruled the panel unconstitutional. Convictions for police officers involved in killings remain extremely rare, contributing to a culture of impunity.
2. Freedom of Expression and Digital Repression
Kenya’s vibrant digital space is under threat from new legislative and surveillance measures.
Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act: In October 2025, President Ruto signed amendments that grant authorities broad powers to take down online content and block platforms deemed to host "illegal content."
Targeting Bloggers: High-profile cases, such as the June 2025 death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody (with an autopsy later indicating torture), have sent a chilling message to online critics.
Surveillance: Reports in late 2024 and 2025 indicated that major telecommunications providers have allowed security agencies access to customer call and location data without court orders to track activists.
3. LGBTQ+ Rights and the "Family Protection" Narrative
The LGBTQ+ community in Kenya faces a hostile legal and social environment that has intensified recently.
Supreme Court Backlash: Following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling allowing an LGBTQ+ NGO to register, there was a fierce political and religious backlash. In response, a Family Protection Bill was proposed, which aims to further criminalize LGBTQ+ behavior and the "promotion" of such rights.+1
Violence and Extortion: LGBTQ+ Kenyans—particularly refugees in camps like Kakuma—frequently report physical assaults and blackmail by both the public and corrupt police officers who use the threat of the "buggery" laws to extort money.
4. Forced Evictions and Housing Rights
The government’s response to environmental and urban challenges has led to massive displacement.
Riverbank Evictions: During the heavy floods of 2024 and 2025, the government forcibly evicted thousands of people living in informal settlements like Mathare and Mukuru.
Lack of Compensation: These evictions were often carried out with little notice and no alternative housing provided, leaving thousands homeless. While the High Court ordered the government to determine compensation amounts by April 2025, many residents are still waiting for relief in 2026.
5. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide
Kenya saw a "femicide epidemic" in 2024 and 2025, sparking the "End Femicide KE" movement.
Rising Violence: Official statistics from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) showed a surge in the murder of women by intimate partners.
Protest Action: In response to the killings of women like Rita Waeni and Starlet Wahu, thousands of women marched in early 2025 to demand that the government declare GBV a national emergency—a demand that has yet to be fully met by 2026.
Recent Development
In January 2026, the KNCHR issued a "Day of Shame" report condemning the police for using tear gas inside places of worship during anniversary demonstrations.