Fighting Bad Guys Since 1961
Change is inevitable, the young Karimi Nduthu said a few months before he was killed in 1996. The courage of the Release Political Prisoners lobby group was at the centre of the first of three transformations that would lead to Amnesty International Kenya becoming one of Kenya’s largest, most influential, and visible movements of human rights defenders.
Who is Amnesty Kenya?
Amnesty International Kenya is a section of Amnesty International’s global movement of over 10 million members and supporters committed to creating a future where human rights are enjoyed. United by our shared humanity, we know that the power to create positive change is within all of us.
We are funded by members and people like you. We are independent of any political ideology, economic interest or religion. We stand with victims of human rights violations, whoever they are, wherever they are.
Annual Report: Still Here
Overview
Our 2024 Annual Report, Still Here, captures a year of resilience, activism, and unwavering commitment to human rights in Kenya. It highlights key human rights violations, the organization’s interventions, and the collective impact of Amnesty Kenya and its partners in advocating for justice and accountability.
Key Themes and Highlights
- Courage and Resistance
- Amnesty Kenya stood with protestors, human rights defenders, and victims of state overreach, reaffirming its commitment to protecting civil liberties.
- The Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill 2024 were a defining moment, with 63 protest-related deaths, 83 abductions, and 2,000 arbitrary arrests. Amnesty documented these violations and pushed for accountability.
- Campaigns and Advocacy Wins
- Successfully advocated for the withdrawal of contentious clauses in the Finance Bill 2024.
- Played a pivotal role in the establishment of a KES 100 million anti-GBV fund following national protests against femicide.
- Exposed the forced deportation of four Turkish refugees, leading to an official government admission.
- Movement Growth
- Amnesty Kenya’s grassroots network expanded significantly, reaching 1,626 members across 110 Circles of Conscience (CoCs) in 35 counties.
- New university and community chapters were established, demonstrating a growing national movement for justice.
- Technology and Digital Rights
- Led campaigns against government overreach on digital privacy, particularly opposing Finance Bill 2024’s data privacy violations.
- Mobilized young activists through the CTRL+Speak magazine and the Rights Click Alliance, advocating for safer digital spaces.
- Legal and Justice Milestones
- Supported families in landmark court cases, securing convictions in the Elizabeth Ekaru femicide case and the 2018 Monica Kimani murder.
- Continued to push for justice in police brutality cases, including those of Yassin Moyo, Baby Pendo, and the victims of the 2024 protests.
- Key Investigations and Reports
- Released a report on police brutality during the June 25 protests, providing critical evidence for future accountability efforts.
- Published findings on discrimination, extrajudicial killings, and gender-based violence, reinforcing advocacy for systemic reforms.
- Financial Overview
- Total funding in 2024 stood at KES 215,892,734, with contributions from Amnesty International, the Hewlett Foundation, and other partners.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Amnesty Kenya reaffirms its commitment to human rights by:
- Continuing to demand justice for victims of state violence and discrimination.
- Strengthening digital rights advocacy and civic space protections.
- Expanding grassroots activism and public engagement.
The 2024 Annual Report Still Here is a testament to Amnesty Kenya’s resilience and its role in shaping Kenya’s human rights landscape. The struggle continues, but so does the movement for justice, dignity, and freedom.
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Our vision and mission for Kenya
We believe in an inclusive society where all live in dignity, freedom, diversity and prosperity and everyone enjoys the full range of constitutional freedoms, rights, and responsibilities.
We exist to boldly confront and skilfully transform all forms of injustice and human rights violations with members, supporters and allies through campaigning, research, human rights education, and public interest litigation.
Our values and promise to those who engage with us
Integrity
We are transparent, leaderful and accountable to our communities and partners at all levels.
Inclusive
We are anti-discriminatory and embrace the dignity of all persons and feminist leadership in all digital and physical spaces
Courageous Solidarity
We will work with others to build a movement that stands for the Constitution, social justice, and the rights of all.
Innovative creativity
We consistently seek fresh approaches to human rights protection within Amnesty International’s global values, digital citizenship, and an appreciation for continuous learning.
Our strategy
Extraordinary power in the hands of ordinary people
Since Amnesty International Kenya was registered in 2012, the organisation has had at least seven strategic plans. The 2020-2023 Strategic Plan was probably the most ambitious. It paved the way to recognition as a National Section governed by members and a national statutory board. Amnesty International became highly visible within Kenya, regionally and internationally.
Our current strategic Framework covers our work from 2024 to 2028. It designates key human rights priorities, common lenses that we apply across all work and core capabilities that we rely on to remain effective.
Our Human Rights Priorities
- Equality
- End to Enforced Disappearances
- Eradication of Extrajudicial Killings
- Abolition of the Death Penalty
- Freedom of Expression
- Technology and Human Rights
Read our 2024-2028 Strategic Framework
Read our 2021-2023 Strategic Framework
Six outcomes challenges we seek to transform by 2028
OC 1: Citizens movements actively resourced to demand democratic governance, freedoms, and justice.
Strategic Partners:1 Circles of conscience, social justice centres, activists, members, supporters
Boundary Partners:2 County governments, Activists, National Government, AIK members, Supporters, Social Justice Centres.
OC 2: Constitutional values, human rights standards and sustainable development principles drive the implementation of laws, policies and budgets across the Executive and Legislative arms of government. doms, and justice.
Strategic Partners: Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights, Occupation based associations. Kenya Democracy and Human Rights Parliamentary Caucus, Mzalendo Trust
Boundary Partners: Office of Presidency, County Government, line ministries and Parliament
OC 3: All persons’ and groups experience safety and equal access to, fair and swift justice in line with the constitution and the rule of the law.
Strategic Partners: Police Reforms Working Group, Missing Voices Alliance, Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Witness Protection Agency, Law Society of Kenya, National Council on the Administration of Justice and Judiciary National Council on the Administration of Justice, Law Society of Kenya, Identity-based activist associations, Judges and Magistrates
Boundary Partners: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, National Police Service, Interior Ministry,
OC 4: Rights-based governance protected against corruption and impunity by national and International financial institutions.
Strategic Partners: National Council on the Administration of Justice, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Auditor General, Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty international secretariat and national entities.
Boundary Partners: World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, Diplomatic Missions
OC 5: Data governance and citizen’s digital rights in the Data Protection Act (2019) promoted and protected against disinformation, invasive breaches of big data and personal privacy.
Strategic Partners: Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, KICTANET, Open Institute, Strathmore University, Namati.
Boundary Partners: Interior Ministry, ICT Ministry, corporates, Communications Authority
OC 6: A value-based AI Section that is sustainable, results-oriented, efficient, relevant, well-resourced, and professionally managed organisation that maintains internal democracy.
(This will be supported by documented and updated systems in HR, communication, and finance with clarity of decision-making. This will be achieved through effective resource mobilisation and improved technical, functional, organisational and leadership capacity)
Strategic Partners: ICPAK, FKE, IHRM, PRSK, AIK Board, Staff, NGO Coordination Board, KRA.
HOW WE ARE GOVERNED
Amnesty International Kenya runs on people power. We are a democratic organisation, which means that we are governed by individual members like you through our Circles of Conscience.
Amnesty Kenya held its first national conference of members in 2020. Our national conference has since evolved into the Annual Delegates Conference, held annually. Two representatives of each Circle of Conscience attend the Annual Delegates Conference to vote on decisions that guide the Amnesty Kenya movement. These decisions include the selection of the Board, ADC chairperson, committee members, and nomination committee.
Read Amnesty International Kenya Constitution
Read the Amnesty International Kenya Board Governance Manual
HOW WE ARE FINANCED
Our deeply held core principles of impartiality, independence and accuracy underpin all we do. This is built on an understanding that all human rights must be respected together if we are to achieve a world free from fear and want.
We are independent of any institution, ideology, economic interest, and religion. Our only interest is in achieving human rights for all.
We are funded by Amnesty International Secretariate, Foundations and individual contributions.