A Nation at Crossroads: The National Integrity Alliance Condemns Escalating Brutality, Demands Leadership Accountability
By Evans Munene Muguna | 1st July 2025
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Kenya stands at a perilous juncture. The promise of constitutional democracy is increasingly being betrayed by an unchecked culture of state violence, institutional impunity, and a dangerous erosion of public accountability. This is the urgent warning from the National Integrity Alliance (NIA), following a press statement released today, 1st July 2025.
In a strongly worded condemnation, NIA decried the escalation of state-sponsored brutality during the peaceful protests held on 25th June 2025. The protests, largely driven by youth voices calling for justice and reform, were met with abductions, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, and even the deployment of armed goons allegedly aligned with law enforcement. The Alliance painted a harrowing picture of how civic dissent is now being met with force, fear, and bloodshed.
“Utumishi kwa Wote” Betrayed
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen came under heavy criticism from the Alliance. His recent remarks, which appear to justify police aggression and delegitimize youth-led protests, were described as a dangerous normalization of state violence and a gross failure of leadership.
“These actions betray the vision of Utumishi kwa Wote—service and protection for all—and reinforce the transformation of a repressive ‘police force’ rather than a rights-based ‘police service,’” the NIA stated.
The Numbers Speak: “Silenced but Unbowed”
Referencing a report by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit titled “Silenced but Unbowed,” the NIA highlighted the shocking toll:
63 killed,
63 abducted,
26 missing,
Over 600 injured between 2023 and 2025—most during peaceful protests.
These grim statistics confirm what many Kenyans already feel: a deepening democratic crisis and the entrenchment of impunity within the security apparatus.
The Deaths That Haunt Us
The Alliance cited specific cases that have become national symbols of police brutality:
The murder of schoolteacher Albert Ojwang’,
The killing of unarmed protester Boniface Kariuki, captured on camera,
The enforced disappearance of blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, abducted from his Kinoo home on 21st June.
Each case reflects not just individual tragedy but systemic rot. They are evidence of a security apparatus that has abandoned its constitutional mandate and leadership that continues to offer empty gestures instead of justice.
A Judiciary Speaking, a Police Force Ignoring
Despite progressive rulings from the High Court—banning balaclavas, holding senior officers accountable, and outlawing excessive force—the Inspector General of Police and senior commanders continue to ignore the law, says the NIA. Their inaction and non-compliance with court orders reflect not just indifference but open defiance of constitutional authority.
Persecution of Defenders and Dissenters
The Alliance expressed grave concern over the arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders including John Mulingwa Nzau (Garang), Mark Amiani (Generali), and Francis Mutunge Mwangi (Chebukati). The charges they face are seen as politically motivated, designed to criminalize civic activism and suppress constitutional freedoms. The NIA demands all charges against them be dropped and for an end to the abuse of the justice system to stifle dissent.
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NIA's Demands for a New Dawn
In light of these disturbing developments, the National Integrity Alliance issued the following eight urgent demands:
1. End the criminalization of dissent, and protect the right of all citizens—especially youth, activists, and journalists—to express themselves freely.
2. Urgent institutional reforms within the National Police Service to align it with constitutional values.
3. Oversight bodies like IPOA must be held accountable for failing to act on their mandates.
4. Full and transparent prosecution of all individuals involved in protest-related violence and abductions.
5. Independent investigations into the deaths of Albert Ojwang’, Boniface Kariuki, and other victims.
6. Immediate resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat for failure to uphold the law.
7. Resignation of Inspector General Douglas Kanja, for dereliction of constitutional duties.
8. Public apology and resignation of CS Kipchumba Murkomen for remarks and actions deemed unconstitutional and irresponsible.
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A Call to Conscience
“This is not just a policing crisis—it is a governance crisis,” the NIA emphasized. “The Constitution is not a suggestion. The Bill of Rights is not a luxury. They are the foundation of our republic.”
The National Integrity Alliance, made up of Transparency International Kenya, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and The Institute of Social Accountability (TISA), reiterated its mission to deter, disrupt, and defeat corruption and impunity.
As Kenyans watch their rights trampled and their voices silenced, this statement is a bold reminder: the fight for justice, accountability, and dignity is far from over.
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