Unchecked government response fostering a surge of sexual assaults during demonstrations
The Gen Z protests in Kenya, which took place in 2024, were marred by significant incidents of sexual violence against female protesters. These incidents, reported by multiple sources, were neither isolated nor spontaneous but occurred within a broader pattern of state neglect and even complicity.
At least 14 women were reported to have been raped during the Gen Z protests by Usikimye, a grassroots agency working with survivors of sexual violence. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights also confirmed four cases of rape during the same protests. However, survivors were reluctant or unable to report these crimes due to systemic barriers.
This is not the first time that the Kenyan government has been accused of inaction and complicity in sexual violence during political unrest. Previous inquiries, such as the 2008 Waki Commission and the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, revealed that state security agencies have repeatedly failed to prevent violence during political unrest and at times facilitated sexual violence as a tool for political repression.
During the 2007–2008 post-election crisis, the state failed to protect its citizens, with police brutality, killings, and sexual violence rampant and inadequately addressed. In the case of the Gen Z protests, despite knowledge and prior intelligence about threats to protesters, state institutions failed to take preventive measures.
The failure to prevent or adequately respond to these crimes during the 2024 protests continues a disturbing legacy of impunity. Sexual violence was not recognized by the authorities as a serious crime needing justice but often dismissed or ignored, contributing to a culture of impunity.
Calls for thorough, independent investigations have intensified, urging the government to confront this systemic failure and address the trauma of survivors. Human rights organizations stress that acknowledging and investigating these abuses is critical to breaking recurring cycles of violence and impunity during protests.
The 2025 United States State of Human Rights report highlighted widespread violations tied to the Gen Z protests, including arbitrary arrests and excessive force, underscoring the broader context of deteriorating human rights protections in Kenya.
In summary, the situation highlights an urgent need for reform in how state institutions handle sexual violence in protests and broader human rights protections in Kenya. The official response to sexual violence during the Gen Z protests was fragmented, reactive, and lacking political will and institutional clarity. The system has, for far too long, treated sexual violence during political unrest not as a crime requiring justice but as a regrettable by-product of public disorder. Independent investigations are necessary to ensure accountability and justice for survivors, in light of Kenya’s political history and recent human rights assessments.
The topic of Post-Election Violence is related to the Gen Z Protests and the broader context of political crises in Kenya. The Economic Justice is also related to the Gen Z Protests, as the protests were largely driven by demands for economic equality and fair treatment. The topic of Sexual Violence is also trending now, with survivors of past political crises, such as the 2007–2008 post-election violence, expressing fear and desire to move to a safer location. If justice is not demanded and those responsible are not held accountable, it sends a dangerous message that survivors of sexual violence do not matter.
- Despite recurring reports of sexual violence during political unrest, the Kenyan government has often failed to take preventive measures, with the official response typically appearing fragmented, reactive, and lacking political will and institutional clarity.
- In 2024, the Gen Z protests in Kenya were marked by numerous incidents of sexual violence against female protesters, a pattern that has been observed in previous political crises such as the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
- The systemic barriers preventing survivors of sexual violence from reporting crimes during protests have been highlighted, with human rights organizations urging for thorough, independent investigations to ensure accountability and address the trauma of survivors.
- The trending topic of Sexual Violence is closely linked to the Gen Z Protests, as the protests were influenced by demands for economic equality and fair treatment, as well as the desire to end the culture of impunity surrounding sexual violence in Kenya.
