Anti-government protests cause death of eleven people in Kenya

(MENAFN) At least 11 individuals have lost their lives, with many others—both civilians and police officers—injured in the most recent round of anti-government protests across Kenya, as reported by authorities in the country.

These fatalities add to the increasing number of deaths tied to the ongoing civil unrest that has swept the nation in recent weeks.

Monday’s demonstrations were timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba—Swahili for “Seven Seven”—a pivotal uprising that occurred on July 7, 1990. The event, remembered as a key moment in Kenya’s struggle against one-party rule, has become an annual commemoration of opposition to authoritarianism and economic hardship.

According to statements from law enforcement officials, 63 people sustained injuries during the protests, including 52 members of the police and 11 civilians. Authorities claimed that criminal elements had infiltrated the demonstrations.

A report stated that 19 vehicles were damaged during the protests. Among them were 12 police cars, three vehicles owned by government bodies, and four privately owned. Police noted that 567 individuals were arrested and commended their officers for “demonstrating exceptional restraint and professionalism in the face of sustained violence and provocation by criminals.”

According to local reports, a demonstrator was fatally shot in Ol Kalou, located in Nyandarua County, while another protester survived after being shot.

Earlier in the day, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported a total of ten fatalities, 29 injuries, two abductions, and 37 arrests occurring across 17 regions. The commission criticized the conduct of police, stating that law enforcement violated a court mandate requiring them to be in uniform during public demonstrations. The commission observed “hooded officers, not in uniform” operating in coordination with “criminal gangs wielding crude weapons” in areas including Nairobi.

“The KNCHR calls on the government to immediately cease the harassment of Civil Society Organizations, Human Rights Defenders and the criminalization of legitimate human rights work,” it stated.

At the end of last month, protests commemorating the first anniversary of youth-led demonstrations against a disputed finance bill and the death of blogger and educator Albert Ojwang saw 19 more people killed nationwide, according to the KNCHR. That finance bill was ultimately withdrawn by the government. Six individuals—including three police officers—were later charged with murder in connection to Ojwang’s death, though all of them entered not guilty pleas.

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