Decriminalisation of petty offences
2017–ongoing
Verified 21 May 2026 · Data dated 21 May 2026
Fresh · 8d ago
Kenya's High Court struck down 'rogue and vagabond' offences in 2019, which had been used to detain and prosecute people for being poor, unemployed, or out at night. Reform was driven by Kituo cha Sheria and Africa Criminal Justice Reform.
Outcomes
Eliminated a major route into pre-trial detention. Several other African states (Malawi, Uganda) have followed with similar reform proposals.
Organisations involved
- Penal Reform International
Independent non-governmental organisation working on criminal justice reform worldwide.
Sources
Last verified 21 May 2026. This is editorial; we hand-curate this section. Spotted an error? Submit a correction.