Police killings in Kenya increased by 20 percent in 2025, even as overall cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances declined, according to a new report by Missing Voices.
The coalition documented 131 cases of violations in 2025, comprising 125 police killings and six enforced disappearances. This marks a 17.6 percent drop from 2024, when 159 cases were recorded.
Despite the overall decline, the number of police killings rose significantly from 104 in 2024 to 125 in 2025, raising renewed concerns about excessive use of force by security agencies.
The report links the increase largely to the handling of public protests, with June and July alone accounting for 68 deaths—more than half of all recorded killings during the year.
“This reflects a continued pattern where police violence spikes during protest periods,” the report states.
In contrast, enforced disappearances dropped dramatically by 89 percent, from 55 cases in 2024 to just six in 2025.
While the decline is notable, the coalition warns that the absence of a specific law criminalising enforced disappearances continues to hinder accountability and justice for victims’ families.
Nairobi remained the leading hotspot for extrajudicial killings for the fourth consecutive year, followed by other counties that reported lower but still concerning figures.
Young people were the most affected, with individuals aged 19 to 35 accounting for the highest number of victims. The findings reinforce concerns that youth participating in protests are increasingly exposed to lethal force.
Men accounted for 90 percent of those killed.
Shootings were identified as the primary method used in police killings, accounting for 114 out of the 125 cases.
The report raises questions about compliance with both national and international standards governing the use of force and firearms by law enforcement.
The coalition notes that accountability for police abuses remains limited, citing resource constraints facing oversight bodies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
Delays in investigations and prosecutions have continued to deny justice to victims and their families.
Concerns were also raised over shrinking civic space and increasing attacks on human rights defenders and protesters—trends the report warns could undermine democratic freedoms and the rule of law.
Missing Voices has called for a series of urgent reforms, including:
- Enactment of a law to criminalise enforced disappearances and ratification of international conventions
- Reforms within the National Police Service on crowd control and use of force
- Increased funding for oversight bodies like IPOA
- Faster prosecution of cases by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Expedited handling of cases by the Judiciary
- Full implementation of the National Coroners Service Act and the Prevention of Torture Act
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to documenting abuses and advocating for justice, accountability, and protection of human rights in Kenya.
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