Kenyan police on Monday confirmed that eleven protesters were killed in the police firing against the nationwide demonstrations in the capital city of Nairobi to mark the 35th anniversary of the pro-democratic uprising of 1990, which eventually called for the resignation of President William Ruto.
The protests, fueled by public anger over corruption, police brutality, rising living costs, and demands for President William Ruto’s resignation, were met with heavy police deployment, tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition to disperse the crowds.
According to a statement issued by the police department, 52 police officers and 11 civilians were injured during the protests, while 12 police vehicles, 3 government vehicles, and 4 civilian vehicles were damaged.
A total of 567 people, including Gitonga Mukunji, MP for Manyatta Constituency, were arrested during the protests.
While police confirmed eleven deaths, several reports suggest the actual toll may be higher, with significantly more wounded.
The “saba saba” rallies occur on the 7th of July every year to commemorate the 1990 pro-democratic uprising in Kenya that demanded a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by the then-president Daniel Arap Moi
Al Jazeera reported that the city centre of Nairobi was packed with heavy police deployment even before the protest commenced, and police fired live rounds and water cannons against the demonstrators in the capital city.
The report also stated that similar clashes between the police and protestors occurred in some other places, with many wounded from gunshots.
The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights said it received reports of 10 fatalities, 29 injuries, 2 cases of abduction and 37 arrests across 17 counties.
The commission condemned the police action and raised concerns about individuals with no official uniforms taking the law into their own hands.
“The police have continued to flagrantly disregard a high court order mandating all the officers managing demonstrations be in official uniform and remain identifiable at all times. The commission observed numerous hooded officers, not in Uniform, travelling in an unmarked vehicle patrolling Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru counties,” KNCHR said in a statement.
The statement also alleged that the KNCHR office was attacked and staff were assaulted by hired thugs.
Anti-government protests have been ongoing in the country since June last year over a controversial finance bill proposing tax hikes. Even after the bill was withdrawn, protests continued, fueled by broader demands for President William Ruto’s resignation, accountability for police violence, and economic reforms.
The protest gained momentum after the custodial death of the blogger Albert Ojwang last month, with thousands taking to the streets.
