IJM Kenya

17/08/2026

This week, we are partnering with the National Police Service (NPS) in a comprehensive review of its communication strategy, an important effort to strengthen public trust, accountability, and engagement between law enforcement and the communities it serves.

The review brings together communications and legal experts from Police Reforms, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya Police Service (KPS), the Administration Police Service (APS), and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU). The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is also a partner in this initiative.

Effective communication is more than sharing information. It helps people understand their rights, access services, report concerns, and engage confidently with public institutions. At a time when the country is entering an electioneering period, a strong communication strategy will be essential in building public confidence, countering misinformation, promoting transparency, and ensuring communities receive timely, accurate, and accessible information from the police.

At IJM, we believe that trust is strengthened when justice system institutions communicate openly, listen to public concerns, and demonstrate accountability in their actions. We are encouraged to support this process as NPS reviews how it engages with the public. We believe effective communication will foster safer communities and stronger partnerships between citizens and those entrusted with public safety.

15/08/2026

At IJM Kenya, we are committed to supporting justice institutions to serve and protect people effectively. We recognize that during periods of heightened public interest, such as elections, timely, accurate, and responsible communication plays a critical role in building public trust, countering misinformation, and ensuring confidence in the rule of law.

As part of this commitment, this week, we brought together communication professionals from across the criminal justice sector and the media for a collaborative learning and wellness engagement focused on election preparedness, crisis communication, responsible reporting, and personal wellbeing.

The sessions focused on election preparedness, effective communication, crisis response, responsible and objective reporting, team building, and mental wellness. The communicators examined the importance of timely and accurate communication in safeguarding public confidence, institutional credibility, and access to reliable information.

A key component of the programme explored what to communicate, when to communicate, who should respond, and how to respond to emerging issues during the election period.

Discussions emphasized information verification, coordinated messaging, and the importance of exercising discretion on issues that may not require an institutional response, particularly where responding could unintentionally amplify misinformation or interfere with ongoing processes.

The engagement also provided a valuable platform for media practitioners and government communication officers to openly discuss their working relationship. They reflected on shared challenges and explored practical ways to strengthen collaboration, improve information sharing, and ensure the public receives timely, accurate, and credible information.

Recognizing that communicators often work under significant pressure, IJM Kenya also facilitated professional counselling sessions that provided a safe and confidential space for participants to address work-related stress, build resilience, and strengthen their emotional wellbeing.

In addition, the team engaged in team-building activities designed to foster trust, strengthen professional relationships, and enhance collaboration among communication officers from different criminal justice institutions.

The programme brought together communication officers from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Witness Protection Agency (WPA), Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), National Police Service (NPS), National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), and media representatives from the Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA), Crime Journalists Association of Kenya (CJAK), and Court Reporters Association of Kenya (CRAK)

By strengthening collaboration between justice sector institutions and the media, IJM Kenya seeks to contribute to a justice system that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the public it serves. We believe that effective communication is not only essential during election periods but also critical to building public confidence in institutions that uphold justice and protect vulnerable people.

28/07/2026

This week, our team is partnering with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to engage police officers and key stakeholders across the North Rift region.

The outreach sessions, taking place in Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, and Trans Nzoia counties, bring together County Commanders, Sub-County Police Commanders, Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs), and junior officers to discuss professional policing, accountability, and the legal standards governing the use of force.

Through these conversations, participants are exploring public order management, the rule of law, and the vital role law enforcement plays in keeping communities safe while upholding human rights and human dignity.

In Elgeyo Marakwet County, 60 police officers took part in discussions focused on strengthening rights-respecting policing, building public trust, and reinforcing the legal and ethical principles that guide police conduct. The team is also engaging communities in these areas.

At IJM, we believe safer communities are built when justice institutions are accountable, responsive, and trusted by the people they serve. By strengthening oversight and supporting key justice sector actors, we remain committed to advancing systems that protect people who are vulnerable from violence.

27/07/2026

IJM Kenya joined justice sector partners in Mombasa for the 38th National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Meeting, a platform that brings together key stakeholders to advance reforms that strengthen access to justice and improve service delivery for Kenyans.

As part of the meeting, several landmark justice sector reforms were launched, including the Standard Operating Procedures for the Effective Management of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), which seek to enhance coordination, accountability, and survivor-centered responses across the justice system.

Other reforms launched during the session, chaired by Chief Justice Martha Koome and attended by DPP Renson Igonga and other key actors in the justice sector, include the Justice Sector ICT Policy and Action Plan, People-Centred Justice Guidelines and Study, and the Standard Operating Procedures for the Effective Undertaking of Service Delivery Initiatives.

These reforms reflect a collective commitment to building a more responsive, efficient, and people-centered justice sector.
As part of the discussions, IJM Kenya Country Director Vincent Chahale participated in a panel discussion on strengthening the implementation of the SOPs for the effective management of SGBV cases through Court Users Committees (CUCs).
The conversation highlighted the critical role of coordinated action in ensuring survivors receive timely support, protection, and access to justice.

IJM Kenya remains committed to strengthening justice systems, promoting coordinated responses, and advancing survivor-centered approaches that ensure survivors can access protection, support, and justice. Together with justice sector partners, we are working toward a system that not only responds to harm but also restores hope.

24/07/2026

What happens when survivors of violence are empowered to lead?

They become powerful advocates for justice, accountability, and change. At IJM Kenya, we believe survivors have a vital role to play in shaping the systems meant to protect them. That is why we continue to invest in survivor leadership and support survivor-led advocacy.

At IJM Kenya, we believe survivors have an important role to play in strengthening the systems meant to protect them. That is why we continue to invest in survivor leadership and create opportunities for survivors to help shape solutions to the challenges they have experienced.

Over the past four days, 21 survivor leaders and 28 new survivor advocates came together in Kisumu through the Kenya Champions for Justice (KCJ) network. KCJ brings together survivors of serious crimes, including police abuse of power, who are committed to ensuring that victims are heard, supported, and treated with dignity.

During the engagement, participants reflected on the growth of the movement, celebrated important milestones, and discussed challenges that victims continue to face when seeking justice. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the experiences of survivors help inform efforts to strengthen victim protection and improve access to justice.

Key discussions focused on the establishment and functioning of the Victim Protection Board and stronger legal protections against Enforced Disappearances—important reforms that would help ensure victims receive the support, protection, and recognition they deserve.

The gathering also welcomed 28 new survivor advocates through a three-day induction and training programme. Participants gained practical skills in communication, storytelling, advocacy, and personal security, helping them engage confidently and safely in efforts to support other victims and promote accountability.

As the KCJ movement continues to grow, survivors are demonstrating that their experiences can be a powerful force for change. By speaking up, supporting one another, and engaging decision-makers, they are helping build a future where victims are protected, their rights are respected, and justice is more accessible to those who need it most.

17/07/2026

On Thursday, our team in Mombasa joined the Judiciary, the Office of the County Commissioner, county government representatives, justice sector actors, community leaders, and residents of Bamba, Ganze Sub-County, for a Community Dialogue on Access to Justice.

The dialogue provided an opportunity for women, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, and other residents to share the challenges they face in seeking justice, including the high cost of travelling to court, limited awareness of legal rights, and barriers that prevent vulnerable people from accessing protection and support.

A key outcome of the engagement was a strong call to establish a court in Bamba. Participants noted that bringing court services closer to residents would reduce the burden of long-distance travel, improve access for vulnerable groups, strengthen case reporting and follow-up, and increase public confidence in the justice system.

Residents also engaged directly with justice sector institutions and received information on GBV prevention and response, child protection, survivor support services, and available reporting mechanisms.

The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, and communities to ensure that justice is accessible to all.

At IJM, we remain committed to supporting efforts that strengthen protection and bring justice closer to people who are vulnerable.

15/07/2026

Baby Pendo Case Update

The Baby Pendo case came up for mention today. The Court addressed issues relating to the handling and protection of sensitive case documents and directed the parties to take the necessary steps before the matter proceeds. The case will be mentioned again on 28 September 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
As part of the Victims' Counsel team in this case, we remain committed to supporting victims in their pursuit of justice and accountability.
Read more about the case in this article published by The Star:

They argue that the petition raises weighty constitutional questions regarding the prosecution of several senior police officers.

07/07/2026

The High Court has summoned IG Douglas Kanja to appear on 21 July 2026 and show cause why he should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with key orders from a March 2026 judgment.

Read more below

02/07/2026

This week, Gary Haugen, Founder and CEO of IJM, Andy Griffiths, Regional President for Africa and Europe; and Vincent Chahale, Country Director of IJM Kenya, visited the Dandora Justice Centre, where community leaders and justice advocates are helping make justice more accessible for vulnerable people and survivors of violence.

Hearing directly from survivors about their experiences, their pursuit of justice, and their hopes for safer communities offered a powerful reminder of why accessible justice matters. Their voices, alongside those of human rights defenders, highlighted both the challenges survivors face and the transformative impact of community-based support and accountability.

The visit reaffirms IJM’s core belief that lasting change requires collective action from survivors, communities, and justice system actors. This collaborative approach protects people from violence, upholds their rights, and creates safe pathways to justice for those who have experienced harm.

The Dandora Justice Centre is a powerful example of what is possible when communities are equipped to walk alongside survivors on their journey toward safety, healing, and justice.

Because justice works best when it is accessible, responsive, and rooted in the communities it serves.

25/06/2026

Ten Years of Remembrance

Ten years ago this week, we searched. We hoped. We held on.

Today, as Kenyans once again take to the streets to remember lives lost to police violence, we are reminded: the pain of 23 June 2016 has not faded, and the call for justice continues.

We remember International Justice Mission lawyer Willie Kimani, Josephat Mwenda, and Joseph Muiruri. Their lives were taken after they were forcefully disappeared, detained, tortured, and killed by rogue police officers.

Their courage and the truth they stood for still inspire the fight for justice today. Their deaths awakened a nation and strengthened demands for accountability. Yet, cases of police abuse of power, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings persist.

No one should lose their life at the hands of those meant to protect them. We remain committed to justice, especially for the many young men who lost their lives during the Gen Z protests.

We remember. We demand accountability.

Until All Are Free.