Nairobi South Ward MCA Hon. Waithera Chege’s reading of a motion this week to commemorate the life of late Pheroze Nowrojee (1941–2025) by naming a road after him was well received by community associations and residents in the city. I urge our city leaders and residents to honour his impact and support this tribute to one of our greatest and most humble of sons.

State House and Vigilance House appeared misaligned this week. A rise in civilian deaths in police custody and limited progress in the Baby Pendo case weeks after the Experts Panel on victim compensation was sworn in, raise serious doubts about the justice system’s commitment to public safety and accountability.

Several victims’ families, human rights defenders, netizens and bots this week focused on holding the advisory Panel of Experts on compensation for victims of brutal protest policing legally accountable. Their call is clear. A newly released report strengthens the case for urgent criminal justice reforms to prevent and respond to police related deaths and trauma.

President Ruto’s announcement on 6 August to set up a panel to compensate victims of protest-related deaths (2017–2025) marks a new step in Kenya’s transitional justice journey. But does Kenya’s history suggest that reparations for victims of state violence are just a distant dream? They shouldn’t be. Here are some guiding six principles.

The BBC Africa Eye “Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade” documentary is classic investigative journalism. Given the gravity of the findings and the public call for action to be taken to stop the trade in women and girls, the Interior Cabinet Secretary’s reaction was unexpected. How big a problem does Kenya have and what could be done to better protect them?

Although the arrests during protests and SUPKEM's report release on countering violent extremism may seem unrelated, the report’s findings offer useful lessons.

Hot on the heels of last week’s policy directive on the use of force and firearms, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) released their extensive report on the June and July public protests this week. This week also, the National Council on the Administration of Justice and the Attorney General’s Forum held separate talks to review how Article 37 and the right to assembly could be realised. Could these efforts signal the season of deadly protests might finally b

With close to 1,500 people facing charges of terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, sexual assault and malicious damage, you would be forgiven for thinking Kenya is at war with itself. The last two weeks have seen a shift in police focus from public order and crime to the unprecedented use of anti-terror laws to suppress civil protests. What are the implications of looking at protests, demonstrations and public order through the lens of counter-terrorism?

Post Saba Saba day, allegations of an attempted coup, calls for police to shoot or maim looters, and mass arrests have raised serious concerns about the government's response to public dissent. How can the current tension be de-escalated?

By tabling the Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025, ODM Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has stirred another national beehive. Critics argue the bill curtails the right to assembly and youth are now threatening to salamia her and MPs who support it. With fresh protests planned for Saba Saba Day on Monday, 7 July, what are the bill’s merits and drawbacks?

Tuesday’s street anarchy in Nairobi had me scrambling for dusty copies of the Commission on Inquiry, Ransley and Kriegler reports on 2007/2008 Post Election Violence. Within 72 hours, key figures accused of coordinating the mayhem had criticised the violence, some instigators had apologised, and several national and international voices had condemned the six hours of carnage. What happened to rapidly de-escalate the situation?

Despite the Kenyan Government’s silence, the detailed accounts of East African human rights defenders Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire at the hands of Tanzanian police officers remains deeply disturbing one week on. Their courage to tell all has opened the world’s eyes to some of the worst human rights abuses in East Africa. The veil lifted, this week international attention shifted to the persecution of prominent religious leaders who have dared to criticize the Governme