A group of post-election violence survivors with Senator Okiya Omtatah during Kenya's commemoration of International Day for the Right to Truth event at Movenpick, Nairobi on March 24, 2025/ JAMES GICHIGIA group of survivors of political violence on Monday shared their harrowing experiences of suffering and injustice following past election cycles, during which their rights were violated.
Speaking at Kenya’s commemoration of the International Day for the Right to Truth at Movenpick in Westlands, Nairobi, the survivors recounted terrifying moments of torture and displacement.
Others, who lost loved ones, said they remain traumatized as their lives forever changed.
A particularly painful memory was captured in a documentary that highlighted the distressing experience of sexual violence.
It recounted the story of a mother who was assaulted during the 2007-08 post-election violence and later gave birth to a daughter as a result.
Through tears, the mother described the trauma she endured from the assault.
Meanwhile, her 17-year-old daughter shared her own painful story of stigmatization from her mother and the community, when she was younger and how they eventually found a path to reconciliation.
“I vividly remember when I was just a child, unaware of what my mum had been through. She struggled to cope with the horrors of her past,” the daughter shared.
“My mum would assault me many times, sometimes using harmful objects, blaming me for the pain she was experiencing. Whenever I wet the bed, she would take those objects and inflict injuries on me.”
She recalled that they lived in a small kitchen, where rain leaked through the roof because they couldn’t afford a proper house.
At the time, she didn’t understand why her mother subjected her to physical and emotional harm.
She was left grappling with scars from the abuse without knowing their cause.
“I remember one time at school when the teacher asked us who we thought was the best journalist, and we all shouted the name,” she said.
It was through the media that she eventually learned her mother was a survivor of post-election violence.
At that moment, she finally understood the source of the difficult relationship they had.
Learning the truth became the first step in their journey toward reconciliation.
The daughter admitted that the trauma she endured led her to struggle with suicidal thoughts, despite her fear of death.
Eventually, the family found solace in each other.
With support and assistance, they slowly began their recovery after years of suffering in silence.
Despite the trauma they endured, sharing their stories became a source of strength, which guided them through healing and reconciliation.
In another account, a documentary highlighted a survivor’s painful experience when her sister, who had been her only hope for continuing her education, was murdered during the 2007 post-election violence.
“Thugs stormed our house, defiled both my sister and me, and eventually stabbed my sister to death. One of my biggest regrets is that I never even got to pay my last respects,” she revealed.
She shared how grief and financial struggles made it difficult for her to continue with her education.
On the other hand, a widow, who lost her husband during the post-election violence, spoke about how her life changed in an instant as she was left to navigate grief and loneliness.
A male survivor also stated how he remained haunted by the trauma of the Nyayo torture chambers, recalling the crackdown on government critics at the time.
As they shared their experiences, the survivors, and civil society groups urged the government to fulfill its commitments to addressing historical injustices and human rights violations through reparations.
“We have seen victims who bear the scars of torture from election-related violence, women who have suffered sexual violence yet have not received compensation,” said Human Rights and Transnational Justice Advocate Tina Alai.
“The state has made many commitments regarding reparations for victims, but these promises remain unfulfilled. We stand with survivors today as we call for action.”
The commemoration event was organized by various civil society and rights groups, including the Kenya Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (KJTN), Utu Wetu, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and the National Victims and Survivors Network.
