Rights groups sue Kenya’s security chiefs over organized political violence

Editor’s note: Read the petition here.

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Human rights groups and three individuals have sued Kenya’s top security officials, accusing them of failing to stop a surge in organized political violence ahead of the 2027 elections, and of neglecting to identify and prosecute the organizers, recruiters and financiers behind the attacks.

The lawsuit names the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service, the Inspector General of Police and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration as respondents. The Kenya Human Rights Commission, Katiba Institute and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit filed the petition alongside Kwamchetsi Makokha, Mary Kambo and Elphas Osoro, all of whom are also victims of political violence.

They accuse the officials of allowing violence targeting political, civic and religious gatherings to continue despite repeated warnings from senior government leaders. The petitioners say authorities have failed to intervene promptly, investigate cases effectively or secure prosecutions, enabling attackers to operate with impunity.

The petition warns that the unchecked violence threatens Kenyans’ constitutional rights and undermines prospects for a free, fair and peaceful 2027 General Election.

The Attorney-General is also named as a respondent. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights are listed as interested parties.

The petition details repeated attacks since early 2025 by armed groups, often referred to as goons, who have disrupted press conferences, civic forums, religious services and political gatherings across Nairobi, Gilgil, Kitengela, Kisumu, Meru, Ol Kalou, Kisii, Homa Bay and elsewhere.

Among the incidents cited is the July 6, 2025, attack on KHRC’s offices in Nairobi, where armed assailants disrupted a media briefing by mothers of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Journalists and members of the public were assaulted or intimidated, and electronic equipment was stolen. Despite security footage and a formal police complaint, the petitioners say no one has been arrested or prosecuted.

Other examples include the June 12, 2026, attack on a public forum at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi and the August 16, 2026, violence in Homa Bay, where people were killed, vehicles torched and journalists attacked.

Petitioners argue these incidents are evidence of deliberate, financed and recurring violence. They cite investigative reports documenting payments to recruit youths for political disruption, and say authorities have failed to pursue the organizers, recruiters and financiers behind the violence.

The petition raises concerns about unequal protection, noting that gatherings involving opposition leaders, civil society organizations and human rights defenders have faced repeated attacks, while responses to violence affecting governing-party events have sometimes been more immediate.

At the centre of the case is Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees political rights. Petitioners argue that citizens cannot freely choose their leaders, express political views or participate in public affairs when fear and intimidation prevail. They warn that unchecked violence will normalize political attacks and jeopardize the 2027 electoral process.

The petition asks the High Court to declare that organized violence, and the state’s failure to prevent, investigate and prosecute it, violates constitutional rights. The petitioners want police and intelligence agencies compelled to investigate the attacks, trace financing and recruitment networks, preserve evidence and report findings to the court.

They also seek a dedicated multi-agency task force to address politically motivated violence, a coordinated national prevention and accountability framework, and regular court-supervised updates on investigations and prosecutions. In addition, petitioners want orders requiring adequate police protection for lawful public gatherings, including political meetings, religious services, funerals, civic forums and press conferences.