Kenya Country Report: October 2025

By Cooper Denison

Demonstrators mark the first anniversary of deadly antigovernment protests in Nairobi on June 25, 2025 [Donwilson Odhiambo/Reuters]

Kenya gained independence in 1963 following decades of oppressive British colonial rule. The 1952 Mau Mau Uprising, an armed anti-colonial rebellion led by members of the dispossessed Kikuyu ethnic group, was met with brutal violence under a lengthy state of emergency that lasted until 1960. Atrocities included imprisonment, torture, and sexual abuse, and while official numbers report that 11,000 people were killed and 80,000 were detained, researchers estimate a death toll of up to 25,000 and the imprisonment of 160,000 to 320,000 people. Following independence, further problems ensued, including single-party rule, massacres and election-related violence.

Following deadly post-electoral violence in 2007, Kenya emerged from the crisis with a renewed commitment to democracy in the form of its 2010 Constitution. The Constitution contains an extensive bill of rights with specific protections for historically marginalized communities. Its language is notably progressive, addressing corruption, ethnic violence, and centralism. However, forces within and outside the Kenyan government have fought to stall its implementation. Today, Kenya risks losing its tangible democratic and humanitarian gains by neglecting constitutional safeguards, denying funds to key programs, and failing to enforce legal protections,  

In 2024, anti-government protests erupted over increased taxation measures included in the annual finance bill. The protests reflected widespread discontent with Kenya’s rising unemployment and affordability crisis. Despite being initially peaceful, the demonstrations turned violent when protesters stormed Parliament, resulting in the death of 65 individuals at the hands of state-security forces. Anger over the government’s handling of the crisis has carried over to other issues, and protests over corruption, femicide, and police brutality have elicited intense resistance from municipal and federal police.   

Violence against women and girls in Kenya is widespread, with 97 recorded femicides in 2024 alone. Although public outcry has led to the initiation of several legislative solutions, including the Sexual Offenses Act and the Protections against Domestic Violence Act, these safeguards are rarely enforced due to limited funding and implementation issues. In late 2024, mass demonstrations over government inaction materialized, and police beat demonstrators while throwing tear gas into the crowd. President Ruto has since convened a national working group to address gender-based violence, but Parliament has yet to consider any law​​ labeling femicide as a crime in need of special legal protections.  

Violence against members of the queer community is commonplace in Kenya, as exemplified by the death of Edwin Chiloba, a prominent activist whose body was found mutilated in late 2024. The rights of LGBTQ+ people in Kenya are marked by legal uncertainty and social volatility. In 2019 the High Court upheld laws discriminating against the queer community, but a 2024 ruling affirmed the legal recognition of trans people while directing the state to protect them.  

Kenya hosts the two largest refugee camps in the world, which are home to over 830,000 refugees fleeing violence in South Sudan and Somalia. Although the government initially threatened to close the camps in 2021, citing security concerns, it has since shifted to a more integrative approach–designating the camps as municipalities to allow for freedom of movement and greater self-sufficiency. Despite this progress, the recent suspension of US aid has significantly impacted the ability of the camps to access food and clean water, leading to the “slow starvation” of hundreds of thousands of refugees in Kakuma.  

Genocide Watch considers Kenya to be at Stage 1: Classification, Stage 2: Symbolism, Stage 3: Discrimination, and Stage 4: Dehumanization.   

Genocide Watch recommends that:  

• The government of Kenya direct additional resources towards the implementation of the 2010 Constitution. 

• The government of Kenya initiate a national dialogue addressing issues of affordability and youth unemployment, and Parliament address these issues through legislation in consultation with civil society. 

• The government of Kenya examine and reform how security forces interact with civilian protests in order to allow for peaceful demonstrations, in line with rights outlined in the 2010 Constitution. 

• The government of Kenya repeal discriminatory legal statutes that adversely affect its LGBTQ+ citizens. 

• The United Nations provide additional funding to prevent starvation in the Kakuma and Dabaab Refugee Encampments, while supporting the Kenyan government’s efforts to integrate refugees. 

Kenya Country Report Oct 2025.pdf

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