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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ten in Kenya suffer gunshot wounds at rallies marking anniversary of deadly protests
Smoke rises as protestors participate in a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in Nairobi, Kenya June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya A person rides a motorcycle with a cross attached next to a man sitting on the ground during a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in Nairobi, Kenya June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi People run away from a vehicle using a water cannon at a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in Nairobi, Kenya June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya An helicopter flies as smoke rises in Nairobi, on the day of a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in Nairobi, Kenya June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi Smoke and fire rise at the site after riot police officers dispersed protesters during demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-government protests that drew widespread condemnation over the use of force by security agencies, in Nairobi, Kenya June 25, 2025. REUTERS/John Muchucha NAIROBI - At least 10 people were hospitalised with gunshot injuries during rallies in Kenya on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of protests against a tax bill that turned deadly, according to a hospital source and a report by Citizen Television. It was not immediately clear who had shot them. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets earlier in the day to commemorate demonstrations last year that left at least 60 people dead and culminated in the storming of the national parliament. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in the capital Nairobi and blocked incoming traffic towards the central business district, the epicentre of the protests, according to local TV stations and a Reuters witness. Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga did not respond to a request for comment on the gunshot injuries. Although last year's protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger over the use of excessive force by security agencies has not abated, with fresh demonstrations this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. On Wednesday, a source at Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital told Reuters that the facility had received 11 patients with gunshot injuries. As the protests widened to other towns, the Communications Authority of Kenya ordered a halt to live broadcasts of the demonstrations, according to an official post on X by the government spokesperson. LIVE BROADCAST OF RALLIES HALTED Ann Kananu, chair of the Kenya Editors Guild, told the KTN channel that the order to halt live broadcasts was a violation of Kenya's constitution. On Nairobi's Thika Highway, security forces deployed tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of peaceful protesters. Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to Kenya's NTV channel, with protesters also gathering in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. The blogger Ojwang's death has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning those who perished at last year's demonstrations, blamed on security forces, against a backdrop of dozens of unexplained disappearances. "We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25... we want justice," Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi. Members of the public and opposition leaders placed wreaths outside parliament on Wednesday. The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
At least 10 people hospitalized with gunshot wounds in Nairobi protests
At least 10 people have been admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi with gunshot wounds as thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests, a hospital source and Kenya's Citizen Television said. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests that killed at least 60 people and culminated in the storming of the national parliament. Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital Nairobi and blocked incoming traffic towards the central business district, the epicentre of the protests, according to local television stations and a Reuters witness. Marches in the port city of Mombasa and the city of Nakuru proceeded peacefully. Although last year's protests against proposed tax increases eventually faded after President William Ruto withdrew the planned hikes, public anger over the use of force by security agencies has not abated, with fresh demonstrations erupting this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. The death of Ojwang has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning the deaths of protesters killed at last year's demonstrations, blamed on security forces, along with rights groups claims of dozens of unexplained abductions. Members of the public and opposition leaders placed wreaths near razor wire barriers outside parliament on Wednesday. 'A year later, nothing has happened,' Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the opposition Wiper Party, told reporters, criticising the government over its perceived failure to address protesters' concerns. The interior ministry in a post on X on Tuesday warned demonstrators not to 'provoke police' or 'attempt to breach protected areas.' 'REFRAIN FROM VIOLENCE' The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies. 'No amount of compensation will fill that vacuum. No amount of money will replace Rex,' Gillian Munyau, mother of Rex Kanyike Masai, one of the first demonstrators killed last year, said in an interview on NTV Kenya television. On Tuesday, the embassies of the United States, Britain, Canada and other Western nations released a joint statement on X urging all to 'facilitate peaceful demonstrations and to refrain from violence.' 'The use of plain-clothed officers in unmarked vehicles erodes public trust,' the statement said. Rights campaigners condemned the presence of unidentified police officers at protests last year. The embassies said they were troubled by the use of hired 'goons' to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, after Reuters reporters saw groups of men beating protesters with sticks and whips last week. Kenya's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday that any policing violations would be addressed through government institutions including parliament and the judiciary. The counter-protesters have defended their actions, telling Reuters that they are not goons but rather patriots protecting property from looters. Two police officers were arrested last week over the shooting of an unarmed civilian during a protest in Nairobi over the death of Ojwang, the blogger.
TimesLIVE
19-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
Man shot by Kenyan police during protests in intensive care, says father
A man shot at point blank range by a Kenyan police officer during protests in the capital Nairobi against extrajudicial killings by security forces is alive but in intensive care, his father said on Wednesday. Protests broke out in Nairobi and Kenya's second-largest city, Mombasa, on Tuesday over the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody on June 8. A video posted on Kenyan broadcaster Citizen Television's X account on Tuesday showed two policemen repeatedly striking a man - subsequently identified as Boniface Kariuki - on the head before one of them fired at him with a long-barrelled gun as he tried to walk away. Police said late on Tuesday an officer had been arrested in connection with the shooting. On Wednesday, the victim's father Jonah Kariuki said the 22-year-old was in the intensive care unit at the government-funded Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. "He is on machine support," Kariuki said in a video posted on X by The Standard newspaper. "I have seen he has a heartbeat ... I have some hope."
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man shot by Kenyan police during protests is in intensive care, father says
(Corrects to add dropped word "range" in first paragraph) NAIROBI (Reuters) -A man shot at point blank range by a Kenyan police officer during protests in the capital Nairobi against extrajudicial killings by security forces is alive but in intensive care, his father said on Wednesday. Protests broke out in Nairobi and Kenya's second-largest city, Mombasa, on Tuesday over the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody on June 8. A video posted on Kenyan broadcaster Citizen Television's X account on Tuesday showed two policemen repeatedly striking a man - subsequently identified as Boniface Kariuki - on the head before one of them fired at him with a long-barrelled gun as he tried to walk away. Police said late on Tuesday an officer had been arrested in connection with the shooting. On Wednesday, the victim's father Jonah Kariuki said the 22-year-old was in the intensive care unit at the government-funded Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. "He is on machine support," Kariuki said in a video posted on X by The Standard newspaper. "I have seen he has a heartbeat ... I have some hope." A Reuters journalist saw the young man on the ground on Tuesday with a heavily bleeding head wound, his hand clutching a packet of face masks. "He was selling masks, it's not that he is a criminal. I have never heard him steal," Kariuki said. The death of 31-year-old blogger Ojwang stoked anger over long-standing accusations of extrajudicial killings by security forces in the east African country. Police had initially attributed his death to suicide, but apologised after an independent autopsy found that his wounds were the result of assault. President William Ruto, too, said Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police". Human rights groups, the Law Society of Kenya and the judiciary have expressed concern at the increased incidents of alleged police brutality.
The Star
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Man shot by Kenyan police during protests is in intensive care, father says
FILE PHOTO: A protester throws a projectile during a demonstration over the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo (Corrects to add dropped word "range" in first paragraph) NAIROBI (Reuters) -A man shot at point blank range by a Kenyan police officer during protests in the capital Nairobi against extrajudicial killings by security forces is alive but in intensive care, his father said on Wednesday. Protests broke out in Nairobi and Kenya's second-largest city, Mombasa, on Tuesday over the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody on June 8. A video posted on Kenyan broadcaster Citizen Television's X account on Tuesday showed two policemen repeatedly striking a man - subsequently identified as Boniface Kariuki - on the head before one of them fired at him with a long-barrelled gun as he tried to walk away. Police said late on Tuesday an officer had been arrested in connection with the shooting. On Wednesday, the victim's father Jonah Kariuki said the 22-year-old was in the intensive care unit at the government-funded Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. "He is on machine support," Kariuki said in a video posted on X by The Standard newspaper. "I have seen he has a heartbeat ... I have some hope." A Reuters journalist saw the young man on the ground on Tuesday with a heavily bleeding head wound, his hand clutching a packet of face masks. "He was selling masks, it's not that he is a criminal. I have never heard him steal," Kariuki said. The death of 31-year-old blogger Ojwang stoked anger over long-standing accusations of extrajudicial killings by security forces in the east African country. Police had initially attributed his death to suicide, but apologised after an independent autopsy found that his wounds were the result of assault. President William Ruto, too, said Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police". Human rights groups, the Law Society of Kenya and the judiciary have expressed concern at the increased incidents of alleged police brutality. (Reporting by Vincent Mumo, Edwin Okoth and Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Alex Richardson)
