As part of its mandate, IMLU monitored the “Gen-Z Led” protests between June and August 2024 and documented police violations including extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, and
enforced disappearances. The protests were organized in response to the over-punitive Finance Bill, 2024 that increased the taxes of an already overburdened citizenry. The first
major demonstration took place on Tuesday, 18th June 2024. One week later, on 25th June 2024, protesters entered the Kenya National Parliament buildings as the largest series of protests against the passing of the stated Bill. During the confrontation, 10 protesters were fatally shot. June 25, 2024 remains one of the darkest days in Kenya, with evidence from multiple sources including over 45 videos and 100 photographs that capture Kenyan police use of lethal and less lethal weapons including tear gas, rubber bullets, batons, and water cannons on unarmed protesters. As we release this report, 11 months after the brutal attacks on innocent Kenyans, we regret to note that no action has been taken yet at either individual or command responsibility level.

IMLU also documented widespread abductions (Enforced Disappearances) of protesters, with a total of 63 cases recorded-55 male (87%) and 8 female (13%). IMLU is also part of the
situation room that recorded 89 Enforced disappearances. However, those that were directly referred for documentation by IMLU are 63 cases. These abductions appeared to be aimed at
instilling fear and discouraging protesters from exercising their right to assemble. Many of those abducted reported having been subjected to torture. One of the most widely publicized
cases was that of the “Kitengela Three”-activist Robert Njagi, Asmil Longton and Jamil Longton-who became the center of a standoff between the Judiciary and the National Police
Service (NPS). After spending a month in illegal custody, they were finally released on 20th September 2024. . The abductees reported being tortured while in unknown holding centres.
The 3 were abducted on 19th August 2024 while traveling in a bus to their home.

Further, the establishment of policing, dating back to colonial times has created a foundation whereby the police are a tool to protect and maintain the elite and political class, not the
citizenry’s. If any reform towards police excesses is to be achieved, we must begin at the foundation of police as an institution; who the police are and for what interests. Otherwise,
new crops of police will continue to be radicalized into a culture of violence during recruitment and training.