By Wahome Ngatia
In a chilling revelation, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) have documented harrowing statistics of state violence during the Gen-Z-led protests that rocked Kenya between June 2024 and July 2025. According to their latest joint report, adopted by the Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF) and featured in their newsletter, a staggering 63 deaths, hundreds of injuries, enforced disappearances, and shocking cases of sexual violence have been attributed to police action.
On 25th June 2025, widely remembered as a national day of youth-led protests, 19 people lost their lives, while 531 sustained injuries, according to KNCHR. This bloodshed was eclipsed on 7th July 2025 (Saba Saba Day) when 31 fatalities and 107 injuries were recorded. The preceding year’s 25th June 2024 protests saw 610 injuries and 63 enforced disappearances, painting a dire picture of police brutality.
IMLU, a renowned Kenyan human rights organization established in 1992, specializes in documenting torture, deaths in custody, and other grave abuses. Known for its medico-legal approach, IMLU has consistently provided forensic evidence and advocated for accountability in cases of police misconduct.
KNCHR, Kenya’s statutory human rights watchdog, plays a critical role in investigating human rights violations, advising government policy, and ensuring Kenya’s adherence to its constitutional and international obligations. Both institutions have now become the conscience of a nation battling an increasingly militarized response to civil dissent.
These findings were spotlighted in the Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF) July 2025 Newsletter, a platform bringing together over 30 civil society organizations championing civic space, human rights, and constitutional governance in Kenya. CFF members include the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Defenders Coalition, and Article 19 Eastern Africa, among others. Their collective voice amplifies the urgent call for an end to extrajudicial actions and the protection of civic freedoms.
The Kenyan state stands accused — not just by activists but by its own watchdogs — of betraying its constitutional duty to protect life, dignity, and the right to protest.
