The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has recorded 31 deaths and 107 injuries following the violent Saba Saba anniversary protests held on Monday, 7 July.
In a statement, KNCHR Vice-Chairperson Dr Raymond Nyeris revealed that by 7:00 pm, the Commission had also documented two cases of enforced disappearances and 532 arrests.
The protests, held to mark the 1990 pro-democracy Saba Saba movement, saw intense confrontations between demonstrators and police officers across several counties.
KNCHR condemned the widespread violations, stating that all responsible parties, including the police, civilians and all other stakeholders, must be held accountable.
Protesters, who were also calling for President William Ruto to resign, took to the streets amidst mounting frustrations over the rising cost of living and continued police crackdowns on government critics. These protests, according to KNCHR, led to road blockades especially in Nairobi, restricting public movement and access to essential services.
According to the Commission, what began as peaceful protests quickly turned chaotic, with reports of armed gangs wielding machetes and spears allegedly working in collaboration with the police in the capital and in Eldoret. In addition to the loss of life and injuries, widespread property destruction was reported, including the looting of supermarkets.
The Police Reforms Working Group and the Law Society of Kenya criticised the government’s response, noting that heavily armed police with military grade weapons were deployed in violation of court orders, using masks and unmarked vehicles to conceal their identities.
Demonstrations were held in 20 of the 47 counties, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nyeri, Meru, Nakuru, and Kakamega. With Tuesday’s update, the overall death toll from protest-related violence since last year has exceeded 100, including at least 16 killed during anti-police brutality protests on 25 June.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had, days before the protests, issued a stern directive to law enforcement to shoot on sight anyone approaching police stations, following earlier attacks on the facilities.
Meanwhile, the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission urged politicians to avoid fuelling ethnic divisions and criticised the excessive use of force by police. The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) also expressed alarm over the reported killings, stating the deaths occurred amid reports of lethal force being used by security officers to disperse protests in Nairobi and other regions.
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