Hon. Hanna Cheptumo,

Nairobi, Kenya, November 7, 2025: VOCAL Africa, Defenders Coalition, and Amnesty International Kenya express our deep outrage and condemnation over the recently witnessed and ongoing violence, human rights violations, and breakdown of the rule of law in the Republic of Tanzania following the just concluded elections.

State House and Vigilance House appeared misaligned this week. A rise in civilian deaths in police custody and limited progress in the Baby Pendo case weeks after the Experts Panel on victim compensation was sworn in, raises serious doubts about the justice system’s commitment to public safety and accountability.

Nairobi, 26 September 2025: Victims’ families, Amnesty International Kenya, Utu Wetu Trust, and the International Justice Mission welcome the ruling of the High Court in Nairobi to transfer the Baby Pendo case to the High Court in Kisumu.

What is the value of a human life, and how should victims of wrongful deaths caused by state officers be compensated? President Ruto’s 6 August announcement of an Implementation Panel to compensate victims of protest-related deaths dating back to 2017 opens a new chapter in Kenya’s transitional justice journey. It raises critical questions. Is financial compensation enough? Or should justice and accountability take precedence in addressing state violence and abuse?

Post Saba Saba day, allegations of an attempted coup, calls for police to shoot or maim looters, and mass arrests have raised serious concerns about the government’s response to public dissent. How can the current tension be de-escalated?

Nairobi, 3 July 2025: The Police Reforms Working Group receives confirmation in court this morning that Mr. Ndiangui Kinyagia is safe, bringing a sense of relief. It has been close to two weeks since he was reported missing. The nation has remained apprehensive about his safety after a large operation of DCI offices in multiple vehicles raided his home in Kinoo, Kiambu County, at 9 pm on Saturday, 21 June 2025, without a court order.

Tuesday’s street anarchy in Nairobi had me scrambling for dusty copies of the Commission on Inquiry, Ransley and Kriegler reports on 2007/2008 Post Election Violence. Within 72 hours, key figures accused of coordinating the mayhem had criticised the violence, some instigators had apologised, and several national and international voices had condemned the six hours of carnage. What happened to rapidly de-escalate the situation?

NAIROBI Monday, June 9, 2025: Now that the Inspector General, Douglas Kanja, has reportedly revealed DIG Eliud Lagat was the complainant, PRWG demands that DIG Lagat be investigated as to his role in the arrest that led to Albert Ojwang’s death. False publication is a misdemeanour “crime”. Why would the Directorate of Criminal Investigations use so much public taxes to arrest Albert Ojwang in Homa Bay and drive 350 km past several police stations and courts to Central Police Station, Nairobi? Why would a suspect commit suicide after peacefully complying with an arrest and actively calling for family and friends to raise bail for him?

New statistics released this week demonstrate violence remains a major threat to the safety and dignity of nearly 29 million Kenyan women and girls. Despite the creation of a large taskforce and the recent President’s Sh 100 million directive, the campaign against femicide needs a change of direction to effectively address this pressing national challenge.

NAIROBI, 31 January 2025: The Law Society of Kenya andthe Police Reforms Working Group are horrified by the discovery of the bodies of Justus Mtumwa and Martin Mwau, two of the four missing Mlolongo abductees. We send our deepest condolences to their families and friends. We join them in demanding an independent post-mortem to determine the cause of death.

The release of four abductees made headlines, but Justice Ngaah Jairus’s ruling on ex-Police IG Japhet Koome’s culpability this Wednesday and next week’s “Baby Pendo” hearing could be pivotal for those seeking greater police accountability.