On-loan Galatasary forward Kazim-Richards broke the deadlock in the 77th minute on a night where under-fire Rovers boss Steve Kean received a familiar barracking from his own supporters.
Chances were at a premium throughout and the three centre-backs Steve Bruce selected for Hull were largely untroubled by Blackburn attacks lacking tempo and guile.
The visitors produced the only effort on target in the first half as Nick Proschwitz extended Paul Robinson in the Rovers goal.
But Kazim-Richards was on hand to follow up his strike in Saturday's opening draw at Ipswich after City failed to deal with Dickson Etuhu's teasing cross.
Subsequent chants of "1-0 and we want Kean out" underlined the fact the locals remain far from satisfied.
Veteran Portugal striker Nuno Gomes dropped to the Blackburn bench, while there was a debut for countryman Fabio Nunes as one of three changes made by Kean.
Corry Evans and Alex Bruce were on the field as substitutes when Hull netted the only goal against Brighton on the opening day and were rewarded with starts.
A measured pass from recalled Blackburn midfielder David Dunn released Jason Lowe down the right in the third minute and his cut back was steered wide from 12 yards by Kazim-Richards.
Nunes rode a rash challenge from Evans to produce dangerous cross that Alex Bruce hacked out the goalmouth.
Moments later Rovers again found joy down the left flank when Kazim-Richards glanced wide from Marcus Olsson's centre.
These were no more than half chances, though, with lone forward Kazim-Richards often cutting a forlorn figure among a well-stocked Hull defence.
As the chants of "Kean out" rumbled ever louder during the first Ewood Park contest since Blackburn's relegation from the Barclays Premier League, Hull fashioned a chance - Robinson pushing over after Sone Aluko set Tigers striker Proschwitz free in the area after 26 minutes .
There was another scare for Blackburn four minutes before half-time when centre-back Scott Dann produced an clumsy slice behind on the end of Liam Rosenior's searching cross from the right.
Upon the resumption another delivery from Hull wing-back Rosenior dipped over Robinson but Joe Dudgeon could only steer into the side netting at the back post.
Rosenior made a vital contribution at the other end midway through the half, decisively glancing Bradley Orr's cross behind with Kazim-Richards poised.
Rovers were now playing with a second striker after Gomes' introduction with an hour played, and the substitute had a hand when the winner arrived.
The 36-year-old chested down Etuhu's floated ball from the right and his prod across goal prompted a scramble, featuring an unsightly attempted scissor-kick from Olsson, which Kazim-Richards concluded by rifling home.
