From Baby Pendo to Albert Ojwang: Why police killings persist in Kenya

Anti-riot police officers rough up a protester during the anti-government protests in Mathare on July 19, 2023. [File, Standard]

Each time a Kenyan dies at the hands of police under controversial circumstances, a predictable cycle ensues: public outrage, an official statement, and the suspension of a few officers.

Despite years of watchdog reports, policy reforms, and repeated government pledges, police brutality remains deeply entrenched in Kenya’s law enforcement culture.