NAIROBI — The promise of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution is facing its sternest test yet, with the space for both civic freedom and economic survival shrinking at an alarming rate.

In a sobering address to mark International Human Rights Day, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) revealed today that between December 2024 and December 2025, the country recorded 2,848 official human rights complaints. But beyond the dry statistics lies a more disturbing narrative: a nation where citizens are increasingly squeezed between the rock of state repression and the hard place of economic destitution.

The High Cost of Living as a Rights Violation

For the first time in recent history, the struggle to put food on the table has overtaken police brutality as the leading driver of human rights grievances. The commission noted that 1,381 complaints—nearly half of the total—related to Economic, Social, and Cultural (ECOSOC) rights. These are not abstract legal terms; they represent families unable to access water, patients turned away from hospitals, and children missing school due to fees.

"The Commission notes that unmet economic rights... have led to widespread agitation, particularly by the youth," the report states. This direct link between empty pockets and street protests explains the volatile cycle witnessed throughout 2025.

The Iron Fist Returns

While economic despair drove Kenyans to the streets, the state’s response has been kinetic and often lethal. The KNCHR documented 57 deaths and 15 abductions linked to security officers in the past year alone. This resurgence of the "dark days" tactics—enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions—has sent a chill through civil society.

The report specifically highlighted the tragic cases of:

• Richard Otieno: A human rights defender killed in Molo while advocating for his community.
• Albert Ojwang: A civilian who died in police custody under unclear circumstances.
• A Minor in Kiambu: Fatally shot, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of recent police actions.

"We are witnessing a profiling of non-profit organizations and a return of criminal gangs backed by political actors," warned a KNCHR commissioner. The profiling of 16 NGOs accused of funding protests was flagged as a deliberate attempt to muzzle accountability.

Youth on the Frontlines

The demographic breakdown of the complaints paints a picture of a generational clash. Youth aged 18–34 lodged 1,210 complaints, a figure that mirrors the demographic dominating the Maandamano protests. However, the largest block of complainants—1,297—came from adults aged 35–59, suggesting that the economic squeeze is hitting the working-class parents just as hard as their children.

The 'Disturbed' North

Away from the capital, the report paints a grim picture of the North Rift. Despite the government's high-profile Operation Maliza Uhalifu, counties like West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Baringo remain killing fields. The commission documented 12 specific cases of torture and extrajudicial killings in these "disturbed" zones, proving that a security-first approach without community engagement is failing to stop the bloodshed.

As the sun sets on another Human Rights Day, the message from the KNCHR is clear: The government must address the root causes of discontent—hunger and impunity—or face a future of deepening instability. As one activist at the launch remarked, "You cannot shoot your way out of a cost-of-living crisis."