𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

At a time when state violence continues to define the relationship between citizens and power, the Social Justice Movement (SJM) hosted the launch of a damning report by the Missing Voices Coalition—a collective of Kenyan human rights organizations committed to exposing and ending enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The gathering was not merely a report launch; it was a space of mourning, resistance, and political clarity. It laid bare a truth the state has long attempted to suppress: that police brutality in Kenya is not accidental, but systemic.

Speaker after speaker rose with trembling voices and unwavering resolve, recounting how their sons were gunned down by police during nationwide protests. These protests, enshrined and protected under the Constitution, have increasingly been met with bullets instead of dialogue. The contradiction is stark: a state that claims democratic legitimacy yet criminalizes dissent through violence. The testimonies painted a chilling picture of a regime that treats its youth—particularly those from poor and marginalized communities—as disposable.

The report highlights an alarming rise in enforced disappearances, a tactic often used to silence dissent while avoiding public accountability. Victims are taken, families are left in agonizing limbo, and institutions meant to protect citizens instead become instruments of fear. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader architecture of repression that targets those who dare to question power.

“We must criminalize enforced disappearance. We refuse to forget. We refuse to be silent,” declared Njoki Gachanja, capturing the defiant spirit that filled the room. Her words echoed the collective grief and resistance of families who have been denied justice for far too long. In a country where impunity has become normalized, remembrance itself becomes an act of rebellion.

Peter, a survivor of police brutality, reminded the audience that justice delayed is justice denied. His scars—both visible and invisible—stand as testimony to a system that brutalizes rather than protects. He spoke not only for himself, but for countless others whose voices have been silenced by fear, violence, or death. His message was clear: the struggle is far from over.

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching moment came from Mama Mburu, who recounted the killing of her son, Isah Mburu, during the 7/7 protests in Embulbul. Her grief was raw, her courage undeniable. “The police killed my son,” she said, a statement that should shake the conscience of a nation. Behind every statistic in the report is a family like hers—waiting, hoping, demanding answers that never come.

The Social Justice Movement, as a member of the Missing Voices Coalition, reaffirmed its commitment to this struggle. Justice, they emphasized, is not negotiable. It must include truth, accountability, and full compensation for victims and their families. But beyond that, it must dismantle the very systems that enable such violence to persist.

As the country braces for future protests, the message from the launch was unequivocal: the state must not respond with intimidation and repression. Instead, it must embrace dissent as a cornerstone of democracy. A government that fears its people is one that has already lost its legitimacy.

This moment demands more than sympathy—it demands action. It calls for solidarity across movements, communities, and generations. It challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and to refuse the normalization of state violence. The fight for justice is not just about the past; it is about shaping a future where no family has to endure such loss.

In the face of repression, the movement remains unbowed. The voices of the missing will not be erased. And until justice is served, the struggle will continue—louder, stronger, and more than ever. #UnbowedForJustice #MissingVoicesKE