Kenya: At least 16 people have been killed and 400 injured in Kenya as a nationwide demonstration to honor those killed during last year’s anti-government protests.
Kenya experienced deadly violence as nationwide protests to honor those killed during last year's anti-government demonstrations turned chaotic, resulting in 16 fatalities and over 400 injuries. Authorities reported violent clashes between police and protesters across various regions.
According to Irũngũ Houghton, executive director of Amnesty Kenya, the death toll has been confirmed by the government-supported Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. “Most of those killed were by police actions,” he stated.
A coalition of organizations supporting the protests issued a joint statement revealing that at least 83 individuals sustained serious injuries, with a minimum of eight patients receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.
Expressing hope for peace and resolution, the statement from the Law Society of Kenya, the Police Reforms Working Group, and the Kenya Medical Association called for dialogue to resolve the ongoing political deadlock.
“We face an unfortunate paradox as a country where more lives are being lost as the people seek justice for the lives already lost,” the LSK’s president, Faith Odhiambo, said on X, “Our hearts break for all the victims of the continued trend of police brutality and excesses.”
In the capital, Nairobi, authorities fortified key locations, blocking major roads near the central business district and turning away buses and minibuses from surrounding areas.
Access to vital government buildings, including Parliament and the official residence of President William Ruto, was restricted with razor wire barriers.
Thousands of Kenyans gathered early Wednesday to pay tribute to over 60 individuals who lost their lives last year when police opened fire on a crowd attempting to storm Parliament during debates on tax increases by legislators inside.
