Rights groups move to court over organised political violence

Civil society organisations and three individuals have filed a petition at the High Court, seeking to compel relevant state agencies to prevent, investigate and prosecute organised violence.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Katiba Institute, Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Kwamchetsi Makokha, Mary Kambo and Elphas Osoro want the court to order investigations into the incidents, including the alleged financing and recruitment networks behind the violence.

The rights groups warn that the violence and impunity threaten constitutional freedoms ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The petitioners want the court to order investigations into the incidents, including the alleged financing and recruitment networks behind the attacks.

The group is seeking orders compelling the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Inspector General of Police to preserve evidence, including police Occurrence Book entries, CCTV footage and communication records, and forward the resulting investigation files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a determination on whether to institute charges.

The petitioners want the relevant state agencies to file a joint report in court within 60 days, detailing the progress and outcomes of the investigations and the files forwarded to the DPP.

The petitioners further want the agencies to investigate whether any political party or its officials sponsored, financed or facilitated the armed groups identified in the petition, contrary to the Constitution.

The petitioners aim to address persistent patterns of organised violence targeting citizens exercising their rights to political participation, peaceful assembly, association, expression and worship.

The human rights groups want the court to direct the respondents to establish, within 30 days, a dedicated and adequately resourced multi-agency task force to monitor, investigate and prosecute the organisation and financing of politically motivated gang violence.

They warn that continued incidents of violence and impunity threaten constitutional freedoms ahead of the 2027 General Election.