IMLU has been documenting cases of torture for the last 31 years. We need your help to support survivors and victims' families of the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protestors who were injured, unjustly arrested, or killed. Make a difference. Paybill No: 4124929 Account name: Your Name

The MASHUJAA LOVE FESTIVAL IS BACK! 🎉 Tuko na form ya Mashujaa Day! Join us for a vibrant fusion of music🎶, spoken word, poetry, and live art🎨 to honor Kenya's Shujaaz.Come celebrate and connect with change-makers in an uplifting, high-energy space filled with art and inspiration. 🗓️Save the date. 🤝Tell a friend to tell a friend. #SanaaNaHaki #MashujaaLove

Building stronger partnerships for human rights and civic space protection. IMLU met with Mareike Badoreck from @bread4theworld to share more about our work to prevent and respond to torture and other human rights violations, support survivors, and advance justice and accountability. The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore potential areas of collaboration and identify how our respective expertise and networks can contribute to stronger protection of human rights. Collaboration is essential to strengthening impact, expanding reach, and building a more effective collective response to human rights violations.

Two days of conversations, reflection and collective action in Wote, Makueni County have come to a close. The 6th Annual Civic Space Protection Summit brought together civil society, HRDs, civic actors, state institutions, development partners, youth and communities to examine the state of civic space and what collective action is needed ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Elections. From collective protection of HRDs, journalists & civic actors, to digital civic freedoms, public participation, accountability, corporate responsibility and electoral preparedness, the discussions underscored one message: protecting civic space requires coordinated action. IMLU Executive Director @wangechikahuria highlighted critical gaps requiring attention ahead of 2027, including clear POM regulations, distinction between notification and permission, graduated use of force, command responsibility, protection of journalists and observers, and stronger real-time oversight. The Summit concluded with the Makueni Declaration, calling for stronger collective protection mechanisms, early warning, rapid response, documentation, solidarity, and referral systems ahead of the 2027 elections. Protecting civic space is a collective responsibility. The work continues. #VoicesUnbowed #ProtectCivicSpace #ACSPS2026

Court Finds the Inspector General of Police in Contempt: The High Court has found Inspector General of Police (IGP) Douglas Kanja Kirocho in contempt of conservatory orders issued on 9 July 2025 by Justice Lawrence Mugambi. In a ruling delivered by Hon. Lady Justice Patricia Nyaundi, the Court held that the IGP failed to comply with binding orders requiring him and officers under his command to issue timely public advisories before barricading roads or establishing checkpoints. .@joshuamalidzo @NoraMbagathi @RayOdanga

On Day two of #ACSPS2026, we reflected on growing threats facing HRDs, journalists, and civic actors ahead of 2027. @DefendersKE Trends Report (2019–2024) highlighted arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, assaults and the misuse of legal and state powers. #VoicesUnbowed

Day 2 of #ACSPS2026 continues, with IMLU Executive Director @wangechikahuria joining the panel for Deep Dive 5: Collective Protection for HRDs, Journalists and Civic Actors ahead of the 2027 Elections. The conversation is examining how human rights defenders, journalists and civic actors can strengthen collective protection mechanisms, anticipate emerging risks and build safer operating environments as Kenya approaches the 2027 elections. This discussion provides an opportunity to: -Identify protection gaps and emerging threats facing civic actors. -Strengthen coordination and collective response mechanisms. -Explore practical approaches to digital, physical and legal protection. -Build stronger networks for rapid response and solidarity. -Promote an enabling civic space where citizens and civic actors can participate safely and meaningfully. Collective protection is essential to sustaining civic participation, safeguarding rights and strengthening democratic institutions. Follow the discussions here: piped.video/live/V8eR8hrhv5E #VoicesUnbowed #ProtectCivicSpace

Civic space is lived. Civic space is collective. Civic space is worth protecting. Day One of the @cff_kenya 6th Annual Civic Space Protection Summit closes in Makueni after a day of powerful conversations, reflection, movement-building, art, wellness, and collective learning. Participants reflected on the changing civic space landscape, the role of civic actors ahead of the 2027 elections, digital rights, corporate accountability, citizen action and collective approaches to protecting civic freedoms. Beyond the dialogue, the Summit created space for connection, healing, exhibitions and artivism, reinforcing its vision of civic engagement as a living experience of resistance, truth-telling, solidarity and democratic imagination. The voices are unbowed. The movement continues. #ACSPS2026 #VoicesUnbowed #ProtectCivicSpace

JOINT STATEMENT: IMLU joins civil society organisations, human rights defenders, professional associations and business leaders in calling on the Government of Kenya to uphold the High Court order facilitating Brian Kagoro’s entry into Kenya. Disregard for court orders destroys the predictable, rules-based environment on which rights, contracts, investment, employment and public trust depend. We call for the immediate enforcement of the High Court order and a public account of the circumstances surrounding Kagoro’s removal from the aircraft and obstruction of his travel to Nairobi.

“We need to work collectively to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, ensure that votes are protected, and strengthen mechanisms that promote transparency and accountability throughout the election period.” Grace Wangechi , Executive Director, @IMLU_org #ACSPS2026 #VoicesUnbowed

We will continue to document and seek accountability Wonderful statement from Wangechi the executive director of @IMLU_org during the Civic space protection summit @cff_kenya @DefendersKE @KituoSheria #ACSPS

@HakiKNCHR engaged a delegation of civil society organisations (CSOs); key partners in advancing human rights and strengthening democratic governance in Kenya. The delegation comprised: • Wangechi Grace, Executive Director, (4R) @IMLU_org • Davis Malombe, Executive Director, (L) @thekhrc • Sheila Masinde, Executive Director, (3L) @TIKenya • George Morara, Executive Director, (2R) @AmnestyKenya • Diana Gichengo, Executive Director,(2L) @TISAKenya The CSO coalition presented a petition raising matters of importance to the Commission and shared recommendations to strengthen collaboration, coordination and constructive engagement between the Commission and civil society. The Commission values civil society’s critical role in advancing human rights and will engage with the coalition on the issues raised. KNCHR looks forward to continued consultations and meaningful partnership in the spirit of openness and shared commitment to a stronger human rights protection framework for all.

Day One of #ACSPS2026 is underway in Makueni. Voices are rising. Stories are being shared. Ideas are being challenged. Communities are shaping the conversations that matter. Under the theme “Voices Unbowed: Celebrating Civic Space in an Era of Democratic Uncertainty,” the 6th Annual Civic Space Protection Summit brings together human rights defenders, journalists, artists, grassroots organisers, lawyers, students and citizens. From dialogue to strategy, from truth-telling to solidarity, civic space is being reclaimed, celebrated and shaped collectively. Follow live: piped.video/live/Vw-au4rIvq0 #VoicesUnbowed #ProtectCivicSpace

Tomorrow, Makueni becomes a meeting point for courage, creativity and people power. Voices Unbowed: Celebrating Civic Space in an Era of Democratic Uncertainty brings together human rights defenders, journalists, artists, grassroots movements, lawyers, students and citizens to celebrate the power of civic action. This is more than a summit. It is a civic festival of truth-telling, protest art, music, healing, strategy and solidarity. Civic space belongs to everyone. Tomorrow, we reclaim it, loudly, creatively and collectively. #ACSPS2026 #VoicesUnbowed #ProtectCivicSpace

POLICE REFORMS Working Group condemns crackdown on foreign traders following President Ruto’s orders, citing reports of harassment, profiling and extortion; calls for immediate halt to non-statutory enforcement.

RT @cff_kenya: Civic space is not an abstract idea. It is the space where citizens speak, organise, assemble, participate and hold power to…

The conversation on police reforms cannot end when the cameras stop rolling. Following IMLU Executive Director @wangechikahuria’s recent engagement on police reforms, the conversation continues: What will it take to build a police service that protects rights, upholds the law and earns public trust? From accountability and oversight to responsible policing of protests, meaningful reform requires sustained action, not just commitments. Watch the conversation and join the dialogue. piped.video/watch?v=oZSTLXpN… piped.video/watch?v=OxeAJgoT… What does meaningful police reform look like to you?

Grace Wangechi: Will the new police uniform contribute to officers being accountable? There’s a miscommunication, and we're losing the plot when we focus on the color, design, and material. The new uniform has imprinted identification that's not removable #CitizenDayBreak

Grace Wangechi: The task force report on reforms should have been released by Ruto, not Maraga. The status of the implementation of the recommendations is very worrying, given that they were derived through taxpayers’ money and a public participation process #CitizenDayBreak

The Missing Voices Coalition launched the Haki Kwa Wote Campaign, bringing together families of victims, survivours, human rights organisations and other stakeholders to renew the call for justice and accountability for enforced disappearances in Kenya. missingvoices.or.ke/article/…