Peaceful election day masked surge in post-poll abuses – KNCHR
By Aloys Michael, August 13, 2025Kenya’s 2022 general election day may have passed peacefully, but the calm quickly gave way to a troubling wave of human rights violations in the weeks and months that followed.
A new report released on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) paints a stark picture of the post-election period, documenting a rise in extra-judicial executions, abductions, excessive use of force, and arbitrary arrests, many targeting human rights defenders (HRDs).
“The peaceful atmosphere on election day did not translate into a sustained respect for human rights in the months that followed,” the report observes.
“Instead, there was a spike in violations, many of them linked to state actors.”
While KNCHR credits electoral stakeholders from security agencies to political actors for ensuring a smooth voting process, it warns that the stability masked deep-seated tensions that erupted almost immediately after results were announced.
Among the documented abuses were extra-judicial killings during dispersals of post-results protests, abductions of Human and activists engaged in election monitoring, and arbitrary arrests often carried out without due process, targeting individuals critical of the outcome.
The Commission says many defenders were singled out for their work exposing electoral irregularities, mobilising communities, or challenging official narratives. Some reported harassment at home, others described being placed under surveillance, while several faced trumped-up criminal charges.
“Kenya’s civic space remains vulnerable to political interference. When human rights defenders are attacked, it sends a message that accountability will be punished rather than encouraged,” KNCHR warns.
The report also highlights the disconnect between Kenya’s strong legal framework on arrest and detention and the reality faced by victims seeking justice. Constitutional safeguards guarantee the right to be informed of arrest reasons, to access legal counsel, and to be presented before a court within 24 hours.
Yet, according to KNCHR, these protections are routinely undermined, especially in politically sensitive cases.
“Effective and timely remedies for HRDs remain uneven. Delays in investigations, reluctance to prosecute security officers, and limited witness protection hinder the pursuit of justice,” the Commission notes.
Legal hurdle to justice
The report indicates that the interviews with rights defenders reveal that many who attempt to pursue legal redress are met with lengthy, drawn-out court processes and intimidation from perpetrators, making it difficult to sustain cases.
The result, KNCHR says, is an accountability gap that emboldens violators.
“Without accountability, violations will continue to be seen as acceptable tools for silencing dissent,” the report warns.
In response, the Commission is calling for stronger oversight of security forces during and after elections, swift prosecution of those implicated in abuses, and the creation of specialised investigative units for cases involving HRDs.
It also urges the operationalisation of the long-delayed Witness Protection Programme to shield victims and witnesses from retaliation.
Looking ahead to the 2027 polls, KNCHR cautions that Kenya must break the cycle of peaceful voting days followed by violent aftermaths.
It recommends comprehensive training for law enforcement on election-related policing, clear guidelines on managing protests and assemblies, and fast-track complaint mechanisms for rights violations.
“Kenya must not repeat the pattern of peaceful polling followed by violent aftermath,” the report stresses.
“The test of a democracy is not only in how it conducts its elections but in how it treats its citizens after the votes are cast.”