DPP Renson Igonga.
By Peter Mwibanda.
NAIROBI — In a functioning democracy, the rule of law is the first and last line of defense for justice.
In Kenya today, that principle is on life support. From police to courts, the criminal justice system has lost the trust of the very people it is meant to protect.
In its place, a dangerous alternative is taking root: mob justice.
In June alone, more than 139 cases of lynchings and instant street executions were reported nationwide.
These incidents are part of a growing wave of vigilante violence fueled by frustration, broken policing and a court system seen as slow, corrupt and inaccessible.
The Rise of Instant Justice.
For many communities, police are no longer seen as protectors.
When thieves, murderers or rapists are caught, the common refrain is: Why hand them over to police? They’ll be out tomorrow.
That belief — often grounded in bitter experience — has fueled a readiness to take justice into their own hands. Stones, tyres, fire.
The brutality of mob justice is both shocking and telling: Kenyans no longer believe the law will act, so they act themselves.
A System in Collapse.
The police force suffers from chronic understaffing, inadequate training and corruption that undermines investigations.
The courts, bogged down by endless adjournments, bribery and bureaucratic delays, often turn criminal prosecution into a cruel joke.
“When people can’t see justice being done, they stop believing justice exists,” said one criminology expert.
That disbelief is now costing lives — not just of suspected criminals, but of innocent people caught in mob fury.
Experts Warn of Normalizing Lynchings.
Human rights groups and legal experts warn that without urgent reform, Kenya risks entrenching lynching as an accepted form of justice.
They are calling for:
Public education campaigns to rebuild trust in the law and highlight the dangers of mob justice.
Improved police visibility, not as a show of force, but as a sign of genuine protection.
Judicial efficiency, including fast-tracking criminal cases and making court processes transparent.
Accountability for officers, ending the culture of impunity that shields rogue police from prosecution.
Which Way Forward?
If the state fails to reclaim the streets from mob rule, Kenya’s slide into lawlessness will deepen.
Mob justice is not justice; it is revenge in its crudest form — often irreversible, always dangerous.
Rebuilding the criminal justice system will require political will, institutional reform and community cooperation.
Until the government proves the law can protect and punish fairly, the cycle will continue — and every citizen will remain one false accusation away from a fatal street trial.
Justice delayed has become justice denied — and that denial is killing Kenya.
The Numbers Behind Mob Justice in Kenya (Source: Missing Voices, KNCHR, National Police Service)
Year -Reported Mob Justice Cases-
Arrests Made -Convictions
2021 675 92 14
2022 728 88 11
2023 814 75 9
2024* 496 (Jan–June) 38 4
*2024 figures are for the first half of the year only.
Key Takeaways:
Conviction rates for mob justice cases have averaged below 2% over the past four years.
More than 80% of reported incidents never reach prosecution.
Police cite “lack of witnesses” as the leading cause for case collapse.
Ends.
