ICJ KENYA STATEMENT ICJ Kenya has raised concern over recent remarks regarding foreign nationals engaged in informal trade. We reaffirm the constitutional principles of equality, non-discrimination, due process, and the protection of the rights of every person within Kenya’s jurisdiction. We call on the Government to ensure that any enforcement measures are lawful, proportionate, and consistent with the Constitution and Kenya’s international human rights obligations. Read our full statement below. #ICJKenya #RuleOfLaw #HumanRights #Kenya

On 10 August 2026, we brought together representatives from the National Police Service (NPS), IPOA, state institutions, civil society, the media, academia and other key stakeholders for the National Multi-Stakeholder Convening on Political Goonism and Hired Violence, convened in partnership with CHRIPS. The convening examined the drivers, networks and structures that sustain political goonism and hired violence in Kenya, and what needs to be done to prevent violence ahead of the 2027 General Elections. It was agreed: Kenya must move from reacting to violence after it occurs to preventing it before it happens. This means strengthening early warning, improving coordination, pursuing those who organise and finance violence, protecting victims and witnesses, engaging communities and political parties, and ensuring that institutional commitments translate into action. Yet, we continue to see the persistence of political goonism and the risks it poses to peaceful political and civic participation. The question, therefore, is not whether we know what needs to be done. It is whether we will act and act early. The convening identified 10 immediate priorities to guide coordinated action: 1. Establish the coordination mechanism with designated focal persons from key institutions. 2. Map high-risk areas using existing research, police information, civil society documentation and community intelligence. 3. Develop an early-warning framework with clear channels for reporting, verification and escalation. 4. Strengthen investigations into organisers, financiers and recruiters behind political violence. 5. Revitalise community policing and Nyumba Kumi structures in identified high-risk areas. 6. Engage political parties and secure public commitments against hired violence. 7. Strengthen victim and witness protection and referral mechanisms. 8. Develop a common documentation protocol for civil society, media and state institutions. 9. Scale youth prevention interventions in high-risk communities. 10. Establish a public accountability dashboard to track institutional commitments. These are immediate priorities requiring coordinated implementation. As Kenya approaches the 2027 General Elections, the goal must be clear: citizens should be able to participate in political and civic life without fear, intimidation or violence. END GOONISM NOW! @AmnestyKenya @TheRWCHR @hrw @CHRIPSKE @LawSocietyofKe @ealawsociety @IPOA_KE @NPSOfficial_KE #EndGoonism #ProtectDemocracy #ICJKenya