Amnesty International Kenya has set out a series of four demands for the government amid growing concerns over political violence and shrinking civic space as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, ahead of the Katiba@16 commemorations, Amnesty warned that politically organised violence was becoming a growing threat to Kenya’s constitutional rights and could undermine citizens’ participation in the 2027 elections.
The organisation called on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the National Police Service to take decisive and non-partisan action against violent actors and their sponsors. Amnesty said the government must ensure that political violence is not normalised or used to intimidate citizens and suppress voters.
It also demanded an end to police brutality and the unlawful use of excessive and lethal force against peaceful protesters, and it also called for police officers suspected of human rights violations to be independently and impartially investigated and prosecuted where there is sufficient evidence.
Collage of images of attacks during the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election
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“The Executive must establish strict mechanisms requiring all government ministries, departments and agencies to comply with court orders without delay or exception. Repeated disregard for judicial decisions undermines the authority of the Judiciary, the rule of law and the constitutional separation of powers,” Amnesty said.
Amnesty’s demands come against the backdrop of recent political violence that has raised fresh concerns about Kenya’s preparedness for the 2027 elections. During the July 2026 Ol Kalou by-election, journalists were attacked and intimidated while covering the electoral exercise, with rights groups and media organisations condemning the violence.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights also raised concerns over election-related violence during the Ol Kalou campaigns, saying the violence had spread into neighbouring Gilgil and warning that it could signal a broader pattern of politically motivated violence if urgent measures were not taken.
Amnesty itself condemned the Ol Kalou violence, describing the attacks on journalists by hooded groups as a serious assault on civic space and media freedom. The organisation said the incidents highlighted the need to protect journalists, activists and other citizens participating in public affairs.
More recently, the Law Society of Kenya announced plans to pursue the removal of government officials found to have orchestrated or facilitated political violence, warning that public office should not shield those responsible as the country approaches the 2027 polls.
Beyond political violence, Amnesty called for stronger enforcement of Chapter Six of the Constitution, arguing that leadership and integrity requirements have been weakened by inadequate implementation. It urged Parliament and oversight institutions to strengthen integrity vetting, transparency and accountability for established breaches.
Additionally, they also called on national and county governments to prioritise economic and social rights guaranteed under Article 43, including access to quality healthcare, education, clean water, food and adequate social protection, particularly for vulnerable Kenyans.
Amnesty said the 16th anniversary of the 2010 Constitution should be more than a celebration of its progressive provisions, urging state institutions, political actors and citizens to make constitutionalism a practical foundation for governance and to protect the rights and freedoms guaranteed to Kenyans.
Snippets of goons in Ol Kalou as captured in an explosive feature, #TheOlKalouCrimeScene by NTV on July 20.
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NTV Kenya
