This week marks one year since one of the most violent assaults on the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in its more than three decades of defending human rights and constitutional freedoms.
Between the night of July 5 and the afternoon of July 6, 2025, two events struck at the heart of constitutional democracy and the rule of law. Senior Legal Adviser on Transitional Justice Martin Mavenjina was forcibly and unlawfully renditioned to Uganda after being intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as he returned from an official assignment in South Africa.
Less than 24 hours later, our office in Nairobi was attacked by state-backed goons who disrupted a press conference held by mothers whose children had been killed or disappeared by police during anti-government protests.
Wave of repression
Mavenjina lawfully entered Kenya on the night of July 5, 2025. After clearing immigration, he was stopped by officers, his passport was confiscated, and he was placed on a flight to Kampala against his will. KHRC maintains that his rendition was unlawful and violated national and international legal protections.
The next afternoon, as journalists, human rights defenders, and mothers gathered for a press conference, the office was stormed by state-backed goons. Attendees were assaulted, property was damaged, and personal belongings were stolen. The militia demanded that the press conference be halted.
The mothers had gathered to demand justice and accountability following the state-led deaths and disappearances of their children during the protests of June and July 2024 and June 2025. They also wanted to tell the William Ruto regime not to use lethal force against their children as they prepared to mark Saba Saba, the anniversary of the nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations that began on July 7, 1990, that was happening the following day.
Repeated calls for police intervention went unanswered as the attack continued for about 40 minutes. The incident was later reported at Muthangari Police Station under OB No. 45/06/07/2025.
One month later, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, requested explanations from the government regarding Mavenjina's unlawful removal and the attack on the KHRC office. After months of silence, the government responded in October 2025, stating that “investigations were ongoing”.
A year later, no findings from those “investigations” have been made public. No one has been charged in connection with the attack on the KHRC office. No public explanation has been provided for the decision to unlawfully rendition Mavenjina to Uganda. Accountability remains elusive.
State repression and violence, perpetrated by police forces and organized goons, remain deeply entrenched. These tactics are wielded against individuals and organizations seeking to advance civil rights and public interest. KHRC, Transparency International Kenya, the Institute for Social Accountability, and All Saints Cathedral Church, among others, faced yet another incident on July 12 this year, when state-backed goons disrupted a budget review meeting at the church.
This wave of state repression is a reminder of the dark days under the KANU regimes of Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi. These actions undermine the democratic and constitutional progress we painfully fought for.
The continued failure to investigate all these incidents undermines public confidence in the rule of law and signals that attacks against human rights defenders, journalists, and victims seeking justice may occur with impunity.
The attack on KHRC and the mothers of victims of police excesses targeted the constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and access to information. It aimed to prevent families from speaking about the loss of their loved ones and to intimidate those defending human rights.
Despite these events, KHRC has continued its work without fear. We remain unbowed. On this first anniversary, we renew our demands to the Ruto regime to:
- Publicly disclose the status and findings of investigations into the forcible and unlawful rendition of Mavenjina to Uganda and the attack on KHRC, the mothers of victims of police excesses, and journalists.
- Facilitate Mavenjina's safe return to Kenya, enable him to reconnect with his family, and respect his rights under Kenyan, regional, and international law.
- Ensure that all individuals responsible for planning, facilitating or carrying out these acts are identified and held accountable in accordance with the law.
- Guarantee the safety and protection of human rights defenders, journalists and victims who seek to exercise their constitutional rights without fear of intimidation or violence.
- Immediately end the culture of goonism, political violence, and repression.
- Uphold Kenya's constitutional and international obligations to protect civic space and ensure that human rights organisations can operate freely and without interference.
Below is a timeline of events related to the unlawful rendition of Mavenjina, and the attack on KHRC, journalists and mothers of victims of police excesses.
Chronology of events
July 5, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
KHRC issues a media invitation for a press conference scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on July 6, 2025, where mothers of victims of police killings and enforced disappearances are expected to speak publicly ahead of the Saba Saba demonstrations.
July 5, 2025 | 10:00 p.m.
KHRC Senior Legal Adviser on Transitional Justice, Martin Mavenjina, arrives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from an official assignment in South Africa. He clears immigration, and his passport is stamped.
Approximately 10:30–11:30 p.m.
Minutes after clearing immigration, Mavenjina is stopped by officers, escorted to an immigration office, and his passport is confiscated. He is later escorted to the Kenya Airways counter by an immigration officer and National Intelligence Service (NIS) officers and issued a ticket to Kampala, Uganda.
July 6, 2025 | Shortly after midnight
Mavenjina is placed on a flight to Uganda against his will. KHRC maintains that his rendition from Kenya was unlawful and violated his rights under Kenyan and international law.
July 6, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Mothers of victims of police excesses, journalists and invited guests begin arriving at the KHRC office in Nairobi for the scheduled press conference.
July 6, 2025 | 2:08 p.m.
State-backed goons storm the KHRC office shortly after the press conference is scheduled to begin. Mothers, journalists, and KHRC staff and a board member are assaulted, property is damaged, and personal belongings are stolen. The militia demands that the press conference be cancelled.
July 6, 2025 | 2:10–3:00 p.m.
KHRC places repeated calls requesting police assistance from Muthangari Police Station. No officers respond while the attack continues for approximately 40 minutes.
July 6, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
KHRC formally reports the attack at Muthangari Police Station.
Occurrence Book (OB) number 45/06/07/2025 is recorded.
July 8, 2025 | about 6:30 p.m.
Two men identifying themselves as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrive at the KHRC office after working hours, seeking to photograph the premises. They are asked to return during office hours, but they do not do so.
August 5, 2025
Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, formally writes to the Government of Kenya requesting explanations regarding:
- The unlawful and forceful rendition of Mavenjina to Uganda;
- The strike on the KHRC office;
- The assault on journalists, mothers of victims of police excesses, and human rights defenders who were at the KHRC office.
August–October 2025
No response is provided by the Ruto regime to the communication.
October 27, 2025
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi responds, stating that “investigations are ongoing.”
One year later
One year after the incidents:
- Mavenjina remains unable to return to Kenya, where his family resides.
- No proof of investigations into Mavenjina’s unlawful rendition.
- No proof of investigations into the attack on KHRC, journalists, and mothers of victims of police excesses.
- No individual has been charged in connection with the attack on KHRC, journalists, and mothers of victims of police excesses.
- No public accountability has been achieved.
- Goonism and state repression remain entrenched.
There must be accountability. KHRC has prepared an accountability tracker, shown below.
Accountability tracker
