The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has been requested to extend the deadline for victims of human rights violations to submit documents for verification, which was to expire on Friday.
On March 6, 2026, the Head of State, through a Gazette Notice, directed KNCHR to submit a report containing the Reparations Framework within 60 days. The Commission has already developed the framework and is finalising a list of human rights violation cases currently undergoing verification before submission to the Head of State.
So far, the Commission has compiled a list of 1,244 victims. The list, now under verification, includes victims of extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, evictions and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as loss of property and livelihoods.
Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights (CCSNHR) Chairman Zedekiah Adika said the time allocated to compile the list is too short, noting it covers victims from the 2017 post-election violence to date.
“The time must be extended so that all Kenyans can benefit from that fund, especially those affected by post-election violence,” said Adika.
He added that many victims of politically linked violence, including recent Gen Z protests, were subjected to intimidation and, in some cases, did not seek medical attention.
“The violence related to political actions, including the Gen Z protests, came with a lot of intimidation. Many people did not even go to the hospital. The level of documentation required may also discourage some victims,” he said.
Adika further urged KNCHR to conduct countrywide outreach programmes to educate the public about its mandate. However, the Commission, in a statement released on Wednesday, cited a lack of budgetary allocation for such outreaches. It has appealed to the National Treasury to release funds allocated by Parliament to enable it to fully discharge its mandate.
“The government needs to allocate more funds to the Commission. We have heard them complain about inadequate resources to reach communities. They must be properly facilitated so that victims can be compensated,” he stated.
The CCSNHR Chairman also called for accountability for both action and inaction by state actors to prevent recurring violations.
He warned against normalising extrajudicial killings during election cycles, saying compensation alone should not replace justice.
“We do not want a situation where killings become routine. The state killed people, others were shot, and now compensation is being discussed. In the next election, we risk falling into the same pattern,” he said.
“As civil society, we are pushing for a process that will identify and hold accountable those still in service who were involved in violations against Kenyans.”
The organisation is now calling for the establishment of an independent inquiry, similar to South Africa’s Madlanga Commission, to investigate police officers who may have used excessive force while handling protesters and to ensure accountability.
By Sadik Hassan
