The National Integrity Alliance (NIA) has issued a blistering statement condemning what it describes as a “crisis of leadership and integrity” in Kenya’s security and governance apparatus following the deadly June 25, 2025 crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.
In a statement dated July 1, NIA—comprising Transparency International Kenya, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and the Institute of Social Accountability (TISA)—demanded the immediate resignation of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, and Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. The coalition accused the three of enabling state-sponsored brutality, enforced disappearances, and systemic disregard for the Constitution.
“The brutal murder of teacher Albert Ojwang’ and the ‘stepping aside’ of Deputy IG Lagat—lacking legal grounding—underscore the collapse of accountability and justice,” the statement reads.
Citing the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) report titled “Silenced but Unbowed”, the NIA revealed that between 2023 and 2025, at least 63 protesters were killed, 63 abducted, 26 are still missing, and over 600 injured—figures that illustrate the deadly toll of what NIA termed a culture of repression and impunity.
Among the most shocking incidents mentioned was the videotaped shooting of unarmed vendor Boniface Kariuki during the June protests, and the enforced disappearance of blogger and activist Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, who was abducted from his Kinoo home on June 21. The High Court has since ordered the Inspector General of Police to produce Kinyagia “dead or alive” in court or explain his whereabouts.
NIA also raised alarm over the use of sexual violence, armed goons operating alongside police, and destruction of property during the protests—all under the guise of law enforcement. The group denounced this as a violation of the Constitution and warned of a deteriorating democratic environment in which dissent is criminalized.
Targeted Persecution of Activists
NIA condemned the ongoing harassment and arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders, including John Mulingwa Nzau (alias Garang), Mark Amiani (Generali), and Francis Mutunge Mwangi (Chebukati). It termed the charges against them “frivolous and politically motivated” and demanded their immediate release, calling the prosecutions an abuse of the justice system aimed at silencing civic voices.
Defiance of Court Orders and Collapse of Oversight
The alliance highlighted that Kenyan courts have previously ruled against police use of excessive force, banned balaclavas and plainclothes during crowd control operations, and affirmed the personal liability of senior police commanders. Yet, according to NIA, these rulings continue to be ignored.
“The Inspector General’s failure to enforce binding judicial orders signals a profound accountability crisis within the National Police Service,” the alliance stated.
Oversight bodies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) were also rebuked for their inaction. NIA accused IPOA and other constitutionally mandated agencies of failing to investigate or report abuses, terming their silence a betrayal of public trust.
Specific Demands
NIA issued a set of concrete demands:
- Immediate cessation of the criminalization of dissent, and full guarantees for the rights of youth, activists, journalists, and citizens to freely assemble and express themselves.
- Urgent institutional reforms within the National Police Service to align with constitutional and human rights obligations.
- Accountability for IPOA and related oversight bodies for failing to investigate and report on police brutality and enforced disappearances.
- Prosecution of all perpetrators of killings, torture, abductions, and enforced disappearances—including those who issued or sanctioned orders.
- Independent investigations into the killings of Albert Ojwang’, Boniface Kariuki, and other protest victims.
- Immediate resignation of Deputy IG Eliud Lagat for violating Section 20(b) of the National Police Service Act and Chapter Six of the Constitution.
- Written resignation of Inspector General Douglas Kanja for failure to uphold constitutional protections.
- Public apology and resignation by CS Kipchumba Murkomen for statements that appeared to justify abductions and police violence, thus undermining his constitutional mandate.
“These actions violate the spirit and letter of Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity,” the alliance added, urging the President and Parliament to ensure all Cabinet Secretaries adhere to the highest ethical standards.
Constitutional References
The NIA underscored that the current actions by state actors contravene numerous constitutional articles including Articles 10 (National Values), 19–20 (Rights and Fundamental Freedoms), 26 (Right to Life), 33 (Freedom of Expression), 37 (Right to Assemble), 238–244 (National Security and Police Service), and emphasized that the Bill of Rights is not optional.
“Instead of safeguarding citizens, state agencies are weaponising fear through abductions and lethal force to suppress dissent,” NIA warned. “A dangerous culture of repression now threatens Kenyans for exercising their fundamental freedoms.”
