CIVICUS discusses Kenya’s nationwide protests against police brutality with a representative of a local civil society organisation who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

The death in police custody of Albert Ojwang, a university student and blogger who exposed alleged police corruption, has ignited widespread protests across Kenya, highlighting the ongoing problems of police brutality and impunity. Arrested due to his investigative work, Ojwang’s lethal injuries contradicted official claims of self-harm. His case reflects the dangerous climate for freedom of expression in Kenya, where journalists, activists and citizens face arbitrary detention, harassment, intimidation and violence for questioning authority. The public outcry has prompted renewed demands for structural reform and independent oversight of Kenya’s security forces.

What sparked recent protests?

What sparked the protests was Albert Ojwang’s suspicious death in police custody. He was reportedly detained without due process and may have been tortured or severely mistreated before his death. The lack of transparency, delayed communication to his family and conflicting police stories fuelled public outrage.

Ojwang’s death struck a nerve because it’s part of a deeply entrenched pattern. For years, Kenyan security forces have been implicated in unlawful arrests, enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings, particularly targeting young, poor and politically active people. Investigations are often slow, inconclusive or deliberately derailed, and very few officers are ever held accountable, despite consistent documentation by human rights groups.

This culture of impunity, combined with lack of political will to challenge police misconduct, has normalised violence against civilians. Accountability is the exception, not the rule. Ojwang’s death has become a powerful symbol of this broken system, galvanising demands for justice across the country.

How safe is it to criticise authorities in Kenya?

It’s extremely risky. Journalists and activists who expose state violence, corruption or human rights violations routinely face harassment, threats, digital surveillance, arrests and smear campaigns. Some have been abducted or physically attacked.

The state increasingly weaponises legal tools to silence dissent, making it dangerous for independent voices to speak up. As civic space shrinks, the personal cost of speaking up continues to rise.

How has the government reacted to protests?

The response of the government has been marked by excessive force, intimidation and repression by state security agencies. Peaceful protesters have been met with teargas, arrests and harassment, with reports of plainclothes officers abducting activists and targeting protest organisers. This crackdown reflects a broader trend in Kenya where dissent is met with violence rather than dialogue, and where demanding justice often comes at the cost of safety. The state’s repressive tactics violate constitutional rights and deepen the public’s mistrust in institutions meant to protect them.

What changes is civil society demanding?

Civil society wants urgent structural reforms to break the cycle of police violence and impunity. Key demands include an independent investigation into Ojwang’s death and other unresolved police killings, plus full implementation of recommendations from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a government watchdog whose findings are routinely ignored.

Activists also want the removal of rogue officers, dismantling of criminal networks within the police and stronger protections for witnesses and whistleblowers. This includes safeguarding civic space so journalists, activists and families seeking justice aren’t criminalised for their advocacy.

But the government’s response has been largely performative. Kenya has oversight frameworks such as IPOA and the National Police Service Commission, but these institutions lack resources and political backing to act decisively. Most recommendations from past reform initiatives remain unimplemented. Instead, repressive policing continues under the guise of national security, deepening public frustration with a system that promises accountability but rarely delivers.

What international support is needed?

Kenyan human rights groups need sustained diplomatic pressure to push for transparent investigations and prosecutions. They also need long-term funding and protection mechanisms to safeguard organisations and people under threat.

International legal support is crucial, including forensic expertise and stronger engagement with United Nations Special Rapporteurs. The international community must amplify local voices and make these struggles visible on global platforms to help deter further state violence.

Most importantly, the world must recognise that civic repression in Kenya reflects a broader, systemic pattern of rights violations that demands a coordinated global response.