A comprehensive report by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, titled Kill Those Criminals, revealed a grim account of systematic violence and unlawful killings by Kenyan security forces following the controversial August 8, 2017, presidential election. The investigation detailed how police and paramilitary units deployed lethal and excessive force in a punitive operation across opposition strongholds, primarily in Nairobi and Western Kenya, in the days following the ballot results announcement. The findings not only documented widespread human rights violations, including shootings and severe beatings, but also highlighted a deep-seated culture of impunity within the National Police Service, which was immediately placed under intense scrutiny for its role in the violence.
The deadliest abuses were concentrated in Nairobi’s informal settlements, areas publicly identified as hotspots, including Mathare, Kibera, and Kawangware. Researchers verified that at least 33 people were killed in Nairobi alone, with 23 of those deaths attributed to being shot or beaten by officers, including minors. The final national death toll from police actions was feared to be as high as 67. Security forces, including the General Service Unit (GSU) and Administration Police, used live ammunition, tear gas, and batons in aggressive operations, frequently pursuing fleeing residents into their homes for punitive raids. Witnesses recounted that police statements and actions suggested a political and ethnic dimension to the brutality, with many feeling they were being directly punished for the way they had voted. Significantly, the report noted that in some settlements like Kariobangi and Korogocho, local police commanders who opted for dialogue and community policing methods managed to maintain order with minimal injuries and no fatalities, proving that the excessive force used elsewhere was not inevitable.
The immediate reaction from the government was one of blanket denial, with the Cabinet Secretary for the Interior rejecting reports of police killings and excessive force. This stance, coupled with documented evidence that the police were not cooperating with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), drew sharp criticism from civil society. This institutional obstruction was identified as a core driver of impunity, preventing accountability for past and present abuses. In light of the ongoing political crisis and the looming repeat presidential election, the human rights bodies urged the government to publicly condemn the violence and commit to profound reform. The future outlook hinged on whether authorities would establish an independent judicial inquiry, fully empower the IPOA to prosecute culpable officers, and ensure reparations for victims, a necessary step to break Kenya’s cycle of election-related violence and restore public trust in law enforcement.