Nairobi, Kenya — At least sisteen people were killed and over 80 others hospitalized, many with gunshot wounds, during violent anti-government protests that swept across Kenya on Wednesday, according to human rights groups and medical officials. The protests, which spanned 23 of the country’s 47 counties, were marked by widespread unrest, injuries, and growing calls for President William Ruto’s resignation.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), a state-funded body, reported monitoring large-scale demonstrations that left over 400 people injured and more than 60 arrested. Many victims sustained injuries from police batons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.
The protests coincided with the one-year anniversary of 2023’s deadly anti-tax demonstrations, during which 60 people were killed and 20 others remain missing. This year’s demonstrations quickly escalated beyond tax grievances to encompass broader demands for police accountability and the president’s resignation over worsening governance and economic hardship.
In Nairobi, the capital, Parliament and the president’s office were barricaded with razor wire as police sealed off access roads. Thousands of demonstrators clashed with riot police, who responded with tear gas, live fire, and batons, leaving many wounded. Similar scenes unfolded in major cities like Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nyahururu.
“They Foiled a Coup”: Government Defends Police
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen defended the police response, denying any misconduct.
“There is no police officer who committed any excess yesterday; they foiled a coup and they deserve our defense,” Murkomen declared Thursday. “Police don’t carry guns as toys — they acted to protect the nation.”
His remarks drew sharp criticism from rights advocates, who accuse the government of using excessive force and suppressing constitutional rights to protest.
Grief, Loss, and Destruction
As the nation mourns the dead, heartbreaking stories emerged. In a chilling reminder of last year’s bloodshed, a woman searching for her missing son said she only found him at the city mortuary:
“I came across his photo in a group online and I started searching for him at the hospitals hoping he had survived,” she told reporters through tears.
In downtown Nairobi, businesses bore the brunt of the chaos. Shops were looted and set ablaze, leaving many business owners devastated. One phone vendor said she lost stock worth 800,000 Kenyan shillings ($6,000) in the overnight violence.
“We watched helplessly as looters broke in and carried everything. I have nothing left,” she said as smoke rose from nearby ruins.
Mounting Tensions, Uncertain Path Ahead
The scale and intensity of this year’s protests have heightened concerns over Kenya’s political stability and human rights trajectory. Critics argue that government crackdowns, rising inflation, and poor service delivery have left ordinary citizens disillusioned and desperate.
Calls for an independent investigation into police actions are growing, with both domestic and international rights groups urging accountability and restraint.
As Kenya braces for potential renewed unrest, civil society leaders continue to demand transparency, justice for the victims, and meaningful reforms to address the country’s deepening crisis.
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