Gospel musician and human rights activist Reuben Kigame has filed a petition in court seeking permission to privately prosecute senior government officials over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the 2024–2025 anti-government protests.
Through his lawyer, veteran human rights advocate Gitobu Imanyara, Kigame argues that justice cannot be achieved through the compensation process headed by Professor Makau Mutua, insisting that financial redress does not absolve individuals from criminal responsibility.
In his supplementary affidavit, Kigame accuses the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Director of Criminal Investigations, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service of failing to investigate or act on credible reports of killings, abductions, and torture of civilians.
He cites findings by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and various media outlets documenting at least 39 deaths, 361 injuries, and 32 abductions linked to excessive use of force by security agencies during the protests.
Kigame maintains that the state’s compensation panel has already acknowledged possible human rights violations, which he says strengthens the need for criminal accountability for those in command positions.
He contends that the DPP and DCI neglected their constitutional duty to investigate the atrocities or hold perpetrators accountable, allowing a culture of impunity to thrive.
Under Section 8(2) of the International Crimes Act and Article 157(6) of the Constitution, Kigame seeks the High Court’s approval to commence private prosecutions where state institutions have failed to act.
His petition also alleges that the National Intelligence Service played an active role in planning abductions, conducting unlawful surveillance, and coordinating operations targeting protesters.
Kigame concludes that if these allegations are proven true, the acts would constitute aiding and abetting crimes against humanity under both Kenyan and international law.
By Creatorhub