The Link Between Government Corruption and Terror Funding

ions by Kenya’s security forces during post-election unrest. According to the report, officers in urban areas such as Nairobi and the Rift Valley used live ammunition, rounded up civilians during door-to-door sweeps, and at times failed to respect the rights to protest and due process.
The background to the report outlines how protests erupted after the announced results of the presidential contest, with opposition supporters challenging the outcome in several counties. The report states that in settlements such as Mathare and Korogocho, security personnel forced entry into homes, separated men from women, and used beatings and live fire against fleeing civilians. At least 151 interviews—including survivors, hospital staff and family members—were conducted by HRW, confirming that intelligence alerts and warnings were not acted on in a timely manner.
The document emphasises that corruption and weak accountability structures within the police and other state agencies help create the enabling environment for such abuses.
Reactions have been mixed. Rights-groups and civil society in Kenya have called the findings a major indictment of the state’s security architecture, outlining the urgent need for independent investigations and accountability. Meanwhile, government officials have partially rejected the claims, citing operational challenges and asserting that the protesters included criminal elements, not merely legitimate demonstrators. Observers warn that without visible reform and prosecutions, public trust in Kenya’s security system and the integrity of elections may continue to decline.
Looking forward, the report highlights critical reforms ahead. These include revising the standing orders for crowd and protest management, strengthening oversight from bodies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, and building mechanisms to guarantee the rights of assembly and expression. For Kenya to secure its democratic foundations and enhance stability during future electoral periods, implementing these changes is seen as essential. Failure to do so risks repeating the cycle of violence and eroding the gains in public security and trust that the country has pursued.