The year 2025 marked a troubling chapter for Kenya’s human rights landscape, with several deaths raising urgent questions about accountability, policing and the protection of vulnerable citizens. These cases, drawn from The State of Human Rights in Kenya report, represent the harsh reality facing activists, children, refugees and ordinary citizens caught in violent encounters.
On January 19, the killing of human rights defender Richard Otieno in Elburgon sparked outrage among civil society groups. As someone dedicated to defending community rights, his death highlighted the growing risks faced by activists in the country.
Shortly after, the nation mourned 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki, fatally shot in Kiambu—a tragedy that forced renewed debate on police use of firearms and the safety of children.
In Dadaab Camp, 17-year-old refugee Gaala Aden Abdi was murdered, raising concerns about the protection of refugees and the ongoing insecurity within camps.
On April 28, the fatal shooting of five people in Angata Barikoi, Narok, added to the year’s troubling toll, underscoring persistent tensions between communities and security forces.
The death of Albert Ojwang in police custody in June renewed longstanding fears about torture, brutality and lack of oversight in detention facilities.
Finally, the May 20 shooting of Joshua Nderitu during a Nairobi protest reinforced the dangers faced by demonstrators and the urgency of reforming crowd-control operations.
