The Kenya anti-government protests on Wednesday left sixteen people dead, with police responsible for most of the deaths, said Amnesty Kenya’s executive director, Irungu Houghton. Kenyans across the country marched to remember last year’s demonstrations, which turned deadly and culminated in demonstrators storming the parliament.
Thousands gathered in Nairobi, where police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, according to local media and Reuters witnesses. Some protestors clashed with police. By 8:30 PM, Amnesty Kenya and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) had confirmed sixteen deaths. Houghton stated that police shot dead at least five of the victims.
The government-funded KNCHR reported eight deaths nationwide, all allegedly caused by gunshot wounds. Furthermore, over 400 casualties occurred, including demonstrators, police officers, and journalists, according to KNCHR’s statement on its official X account.
The watchdog noted a heavy police presence and allegations of excessive force during the Kenya anti-government protests. Authorities reportedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and water cannons, causing many injuries. Despite these reports, police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the allegations from Amnesty Kenya and KNCHR.
Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) reported at least 61 arrests during the protests. At Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hospital, dozens of injured people arrived, mostly suffering gunshot wounds. The hospital official confirmed 107 admissions but reported no deaths on site.
Kenya Power confirmed that one of its security guards died from a gunshot while patrolling its Nairobi headquarters. Earlier in the day, large crowds marched toward State House, the president’s official residence. Kenyan channel NTV broadcast the scenes live before it and KTN were pulled off air after defying a government order to stop live broadcasts. The court later suspended the order, allowing the channels to resume coverage.
Clashes also erupted in the port city of Mombasa, with protests spreading to Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu, and Nyeri, as reported by NTV. Although last year’s protests subsided after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger remains over police brutality. Fresh demonstrations erupted recently after the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Authorities charged six people, including three police officers, with murder over Ojwang’s death. All pleaded not guilty. Ojwang’s case has become a symbol of Kenyans’ demand for justice. Many mourn the victims of last year’s crackdown and fear unexplained disappearances.
“We fight for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25… we want justice,” protester Lumumba Harmony told Reuters in Nairobi.
The unprecedented events on June 25, 2024, when police fired on protesters breaking barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of President Ruto’s term. The violent crackdown alarmed Kenya’s international allies and sparked widespread condemnation.
