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Human rights bureau calls for accountability aft 31 radical are killed, and 107 others wounded successful nationwide ‘Saba Saba’ marches.
Published On 9 Jul 2025
The decease toll from antigovernment protests successful Kenya has surged to astatine slightest 31 people, the country’s quality rights committee said, with astatine slightest 107 others wounded during the nationwide marches.
In a connection connected Tuesday, the National Commission connected Human Rights (KNCHR) besides reported 2 forced disappearances successful the aftermath of Monday’s marches, which commemorated a 1990 uprising against undemocratic governance successful the East African nation.
The commission, which initially gave a toll of 10 dormant and 29 wounded, said it has besides counted astatine slightest 532 arrests.
The marches saw clashes erupt betwixt protesters and constabulary successful the capital, Nairobi, arsenic good arsenic the metropolis of Eldoret, with the KNCHR accusing the constabulary of cooperating with equipped gangs, who were equipped with machetes and spears, successful the aftermath of the violence.
There was wide demolition of property, too, including supermarkets.
The KNCHR said it “strongly condemns each quality rights violations and urges accountability from each liable parties including police, civilians and each different stakeholders”.
Monday’s marches marked Saba Saba Day, meaning Seven Seven, which celebrates the day erstwhile Kenyans roseate up to request a instrumentality to multi-party ideology connected July 7, 1990, aft years of regularisation by then-President Daniel arap Moi.
They came amid much than a twelvemonth of mostly youth-led protests that person swept crossed Kenya since June 2024, erstwhile projected taxation rises triggered choler astir wider issues, including the authorities of the economy, corruption and constabulary brutality.
Protesters person besides been calling connected President William Ruto to resign.
Their actions person been met with harsh repression from the police.
The Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working Group said that “heavily equipped constabulary with subject people weapons were deployed successful usurpation of tribunal orders, utilizing masks and unmarked vehicles to conceal their identities”.
Overall, the Police Reforms Working Group said that the protests connected Monday took spot successful 20 of Kenya’s 47 counties connected Monday, including Nairobi, Kajiado, Nyeri, Mombasa, Kisii, Embu, Kisumu, Kiambu, Meru, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Vihiga, Narok, Kirinyaga, Uasin Gishu, Tharaka Nithi, Makueni, Laikipia and Kakamega.
Kenyan constabulary officers stitchery connected a main roadworthy to disperse protesters during clashes astatine Saba Saba Day demonstrations successful Nairobi connected Monday [Luis Tato/AFP]Tuesday’s toll takes the fig of radical dormant successful the protests since they began past twelvemonth to much than 100.
This includes astatine slightest 16 radical killed successful nationwide rallies against constabulary brutality and authorities corruption successful Kenya, on June 25, little than 2 weeks ago.
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Interior Kipchumba Murkomen past week told constabulary to “shoot connected sight” anyone who approaches constabulary stations during protests aft respective were burned.
The Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a authorities assemblage whose commissioners are appointed by the president, connected Tuesday urged politicians not to heighten taste tensions and criticised constabulary for utilizing excessive unit towards protesters.
In a connection issued earlier the revised decease toll, the United Nations quality rights office, OHCHR, expressed heavy interest implicit the killings of protesters successful Kenya connected Monday.
It said the deaths occurred “amid reports that constabulary and information forces utilized lethal unit to quell convulsive demonstrations successful Nairobi and crossed the country”.
Source:
Al Jazeera and quality agencies
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