Police killings 2025: Gender breakdown in Kenya

A stark gender disparity defines the landscape of police-related fatalities in Kenya, with men comprising the overwhelming majority of victims.

According to the 2025 Missing Voices Annual Report released on March 24, 2026, law enforcement violence remains a predominantly male experience, accounting for 90 per cent of all documented cases.

The data reveal that out of the total fatalities recorded over the past year, 112 were men. In contrast, female victims numbered 13, representing 10 per cent of the total figure.

This massive gap suggests that men are far more likely to be killed by police, a vulnerability exacerbated by a notable lack of public outcry when male lives are lost.

While incidents involving female victims often draw significant attention, the report highlights that the relative absence of public backlash regarding the deaths of men leaves them more exposed to lethal force.

These findings underscore a persistent pattern in the country's security operations. The lopsided ratio of 112 men to 13 women points to a systemic issue where young men in particular face the highest risk of fatal encounters with authorities.

As the data from the 2025 annual report circulates, the focus remains on the specific demographic weight of these killings and the societal silence that often follows the death of male victims in these contexts.