The Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya (PRWG-K), a coalition of over 20 human rights and governance organizations, has issued a stinging condemnation of the National Police Service following violent scenes that unfolded during protests in Nairobi on June 17. The group, known for its long-standing advocacy for human rights-compliant policing, blames the authorities for a breakdown in law enforcement professionalism and for enabling masked agitators to wreak havoc in the capital.
According to the PRWG-K’s statement, what began as peaceful demonstrations were hijacked by violent actors, resulting in mayhem across the city and the fatal police shooting of businessman Boniface Kariuki, an unarmed bystander. At least 25 others were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, while public and private property suffered significant damage.
The coalition strongly criticized the police’s use of excessive force and called for an urgent investigation. They demand that the Inspector General of Police immediately address misconduct, identify and prosecute officers involved in brutality, and submit all forensic evidence—including deployment schedules and ballistic reports—to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The PRWG-K further expressed concern over political interference in policing operations, singling out the Nairobi Governor and Members of the County Assembly for allegedly enabling and even praising the masked groups. Several of these groups were reportedly seen consulting with police officers and later engaging in violence along major city avenues.
The statement also points to a failure by the National Police Service to prevent coordinated attacks by masked agitators, despite clear intelligence and widespread monitoring. According to the group, this points to either institutional negligence or tacit complicity.
The PRWG-K includes prominent national and international organizations such as Amnesty International Kenya, Transparency International Kenya, Defenders Coalition, the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists, FIDA-Kenya, and Katiba Institute, among others.
Beyond demanding legal accountability, the group called on medical workers, journalists, and citizens who upheld nonviolence to be recognized and supported. “Continued violence threatens Kenya’s lives, democratic stability and economic resilience,” the statement warns.
For civil society professionals and development partners, this stark report is yet another call to urgently push for police reforms and ensure that constitutional protections are upheld even during public dissent.
