Police Officers Charged for 2017 Post‑Election Violence

In a groundbreaking move, Kenyan prosecutors have announced charges against police officers for alleged crimes against humanity linked to a violent crackdown following the disputed 2017 election. The October 2022 filing marks the first time such charges have been brought under Kenyan law, invoking the International Crimes Act. Africa News+2Africa News+2
Authorities say the accused officers stand charged with murder, torture, rape, and other human rights violations, including the death of a six-month-old baby, Samantha Pendo. Africa News+2The Guardian+2 According to the prosecutor’s office, the 2017 arrests and use of force were not spontaneous, but planned, coordinated and not random. Africa News The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights estimates that some 94 people died, more than 300 were injured, and there were over 200 reported cases of sexual violence during the post-election unrest. The Guardian+1
The announcement has drawn praise from international observers. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the charges an important step towards accountability in Kenya. Africa News Domestically, the decision also aligns with recent police reforms: just days earlier, President William Ruto moved to disband the notorious Special Services Unit (SSU), a police unit implicated in past abuses. Africa News
Still, the road ahead may be long and fraught. Rights groups warn that convictions will require sustained political will, robust investigations, and protection for witnesses. But for many affected families, the charges bring a hard-won sense of hope — that Kenya may finally confront impunity and begin the difficult task of healing.