Overview
This issue of the Amnesty Kenya Gazette captures a year of reckoning for Kenya—marked by brutal state repression, rising femicide, mass evictions, and the criminalisation of dissent. Yet amidst the violence and silencing, voices of resistance continue to rise—from schoolgirls tear-gassed for performing a play, to communities demanding justice in the face of police killings. We document these truths, celebrate the courage of those who refuse to be silenced, and spotlight the power of solidarity—from our data rights allies to our new Amnesty Duka. This issue is a call to action: read it, share it, and stand with those building a freer, more just Kenya..
In this issue
- When the Curtain Falls on Freedom of Expression
- State of the World’s Human Rights Report Launch – Kenya Edition
- Data rights are human rights
- Amnesty Duka
- Tribute to the Late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrejee (1941 – 2025)
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When the Curtain Falls on Freedom of Expression
This year’s National School Drama Festival—normally a showcase of youthful brilliance and creative freedom—was darkened by a violent and repressive state response. Butere Girls High School’s anticipated performance of Echoes of War, a fictional play about a disillusioned generation of youth, was disrupted by tear gas and police force. In a surreal twist, the play’s critique of failed leadership unfolded offstage in real-time: journalists were assaulted, and the playwright, Cleophas Malala, was arrested the night before.
In our statement dated 10th April 2025, Amnesty International Kenya unequivocally condemned the use of unlawful force, the arbitrary arrest of Malala, and the disruption of a school play by security officers. This was not merely an abuse of police power—it was a direct attack on constitutional freedoms, on freedom of expression, and on the sanctity of spaces meant for artistic reflection and public dialogue.
By criminalizing children’s creativity and turning cultural platforms into zones of fear, the state has violated both Kenyan and international legal protections. The Children Act 2022 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantee every child the right to participate in cultural life and express themselves freely—including through art. We called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to urgently investigate and hold accountable all officers and commanders involved.
Though Butere Girls were denied their moment on stage, we celebrate their courage. Echoes of War has already done what powerful art is meant to do—it has provoked reflection, resistance, and solidarity. Malala has since been released without charge, but the message is clear: art is not a crime. Truth-telling is not a crime. And being young, bold, and expressive in Kenya must never be treated as one.
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JUSTICE FOR EUGINE
Eugine was an only child. He was killed during violent policing of a school unrest. He died in a place where he should have felt safe.
State of the World’s Human Rights Report Launch
Coinciding with the launch of Amnesty International’s 2024/25 State of the World’s Human Rights Report, the BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament exposed in chilling clarity the identities of security officers who killed three protesters—Erickson Mutisya, David Chege, and Eric Shieni—outside Parliament on 25 June 2024. This documentary corroborated our joint civil society report released on 25 September 2024, which found that both lethal and less-lethal force had been used unnecessarily and excessively against peaceful demonstrators. Nearly a year later, despite promises from top government officials, justice has remained illusive.
At our report launch, Amnesty International Kenya called on the National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces to publicly disclose what action, if any, they have taken in response to Blood Parliament. Justice must not rely on viral documentaries—it must be a basic principle of governance. Shielding uniformed perpetrators only deepens impunity and erodes public trust in the state’s commitment to accountability.
The Kenya report also highlights a devastating spike in femicides: 170 women were killed in gender-based attacks by the end of 2024—double the 2023 figures and five times those in 2016. Each number reflects a woman robbed of her future. We urge the Taskforce on Gender-Based Violence and the Ministry of Gender, Arts, and Heritage to implement urgent, state-led measures in line with the EndFemicideKE and HumanIsMyID recommendations. A country where women are killed for being women is a country in crisis.
The report further documents mass forced evictions during March–April 2024 floods that left over 6,000 families in Mathare, Mukuru, Kiamaiko, and Gwa Kairu homeless—violating their right to housing and dignity. We call on the state to obey the High Court’s compensation order and end unlawful evictions. We also urge Parliament to reject the repressive Assembly and Demonstration Bill (2024) and call on the Treasury to curb corruption and waste instead of punishing citizens with excessive taxation. Above all, we call on all Kenyans to keep demanding justice and dignity. The struggle for human rights must never be silenced.
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DEMAND A PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE JUNE 25TH SHOOTINGS IN PARLIAMENT
Join the 600+ Kenyans who have signed this petition, calling for justice and accountability
Data Rights are Human Rights
As the digital age rapidly reshapes how our personal information is collected, stored, and used, Amnesty International Kenya remains committed to ensuring that data governance centres human rights. In April, we partnered with the Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya (DPGSK) for an engaging Data Governance Café—a critical conversation on embedding human rights into Kenya’s evolving data ecosystem.
The convening brought together experts, practitioners, and rights defenders to explore the importance of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) in safeguarding citizens’ rights. These assessments are not just a regulatory requirement—they are a cornerstone of ethical data use, helping anticipate and prevent harm before it occurs.
Through vibrant discussions on legal frameworks, sectoral approaches, and the integration of human rights principles, participants reflected on best practices and the urgent need for responsible data governance across public and private sectors. With increased digitization in policing, education, healthcare, and civic spaces, it is imperative that Kenya avoids data colonialism and algorithmic bias—where data becomes a tool of control rather than empowerment.
As Amnesty International Kenya, we continue to champion a people-first approach to technology and data use—where dignity, privacy, and consent are not afterthoughts, but the foundation of digital progress.
Amnesty Duka
Introducing Amnesty Duka — our brand-new online store where human rights meet style and purpose! From bold t-shirts to reusable water bottles, every item you purchase isn’t just cool merch — it’s a statement. All proceeds go directly to powering Amnesty Kenya’s work defending human rights across the country. Shop with purpose. Wear your values. Support the movement.
Click on the button below to visit our online store.
Tribute to the Late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee ( 1941 – 2025)
We mourn the passing of Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee—a towering figure in Kenya’s legal and human rights landscape. His resolute defence of justice, fairness, and integrity remained unwavering across decades, even in the face of repression and adversity. Through landmark cases and quiet counsel alike, he championed the rule of law and the dignity of every person.
Pheroze was not only a brilliant advocate but also a profoundly generous mentor. He shared his time, wisdom, and experience freely, nurturing generations of lawyers, judges, and scholars—many of whom now serve in the highest offices of our legal institutions. His influence lives on in the minds he shaped and the values he instilled.
He taught us that law must always serve humanity. That truth must be spoken even when inconvenient. And that justice must not wait for perfect conditions to be pursued.
