KNCHR identifies 1,563 victims of rights violations, calls for urgent funding
A group of protesters march on Moi Avenue in Mombasa during the commemoration of victims of police brutality during the June 2024 protests.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is considering a list of 1,563 victims and survivors of human rights violations as part of an ongoing process to develop a national framework for compensation and reparations.
The commission said the list, compiled by the close of submissions on April 3, is currently undergoing verification to ensure it meets the set eligibility criteria.
In a statement, the commission’s chairperson, Claris Ogangah, said the exercise followed a public call for survivors and families of victims to submit information within a timeline aimed at enabling the commission to prepare its report within 60 days, as stipulated in a Gazette Notice and Presidential Proclamation.
“By 5:00pm today (April 3, 2026), the Commission had compiled a list of one thousand five hundred and sixty-three (1,563) victims and survivors, which is undergoing verification in line with the eligibility criteria,” Ms Ogangah said in the statement.
The commission noted that the documented cases span a wide range of serious violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, evictions, and loss of property and livelihoods.
However, Ms Ogangah acknowledged that limited resources had hampered efforts to reach all victims, particularly those from vulnerable and marginalised communities.
As such, the commission has made attempts to reach Kenyans in various parts of the country, but with limited resources, the statement read.
“Regrettably, the Commission has been unable to reach out to those victims who were unable to physically appear in our offices, the majority of whom are poor, marginalised or vulnerable.”
The commission also admitted that it had not conducted adequate stakeholder engagement and public participation in developing the reparations framework due to financial constraints.
“The Commission has been unable to conduct stakeholder outreach and public participation on the proposed reparations framework,” it said.
KNCHR has now urged the National Treasury to urgently release funds to facilitate the verification process and ensure broader public participation within the remaining timeframe.
“In this regard, the KNCHR once again calls on the National Treasury to release the funds urgently to enable the Commission to undertake the verification process and to make good progress in the remaining phase of this exercise within the Gazette Notice period of sixty (60) days,” the statement said.
The commission further reminded Parliament and the Executive of their obligation to adequately fund its operations.
“The KNCHR reminds Parliament and the Executive of their primary obligation to ensure that the Commission is optimally resourced to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate,” it added.
Despite the April 3 deadline for submissions, KNCHR clarified that reporting of human rights violations remains open-ended.
“The deadline of April 3, 2026, does not in any way stop the reporting of human rights violations,” the commission said.
“Reparations remain a continuous process,” it added, urging families of victims, survivors, and members of the public to continue reporting violations.
Victims, the commission said, should present supporting evidence, including medical reports, P3 forms, police Occurrence Book (OB) numbers, and post-mortem reports.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
