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First Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Kenya capital locked down as protesters-police clashes continue, at least 10 reported killed
Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that last month degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed read more Kenya anti-riot police arrive to dispel protesters who had erected barricades during Saba Saba Day demonstrations in Nairobi on July 7, 2025. AFP At least 10 people died across Kenya and hundreds were arrested during anti-government demonstrations on Monday, a rights group and police said, following clashes between police and protesters in the capital Nairobi's Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) also accused the police of cooperating with criminal gangs, as a heavy deployment of the security forces kept much of central Nairobi deserted ahead of the annual marches to mark Saba Saba Day. Meaning Seven Seven, the demonstrations commemorate July 7, 1990 when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. The KNCHR said in a statement it 'had documented ten fatalities, twenty-nine injuries' across 17 counties, but did not provide any further details. A statement from the National Police Service (NPS) late Monday put the death toll at 11, with 52 police officers and 11 civilians wounded. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From around midday, AFP saw running battles with groups of anti-riot police who fired teargas at small gatherings, with some of the crowd throwing rocks back and engaging in destructive looting. Young Kenyans, frustrated over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality, are once again engaging in protests that last month degenerated into looting and violence, leaving dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government has compared June's demonstrations to an 'attempted coup'. 'Hooded gangs' On Monday, the streets of central Nairobi were quiet after police mounted roadblocks on the main roads, restricting entry to areas that were the epicentre of previous rallies. Many businesses were closed for the day. 'I have never witnessed the city centre like this,' security guard Edmond Khayimba, 29, told AFP. While the centre remained deserted, groups gathered on the outskirts in the afternoon with AFP reporters witnessing two people wounded, as well as looting and vandalism. Protesters on a major highway clashed with police blocking their entry into the city, with the small crowds chanting: 'Ruto Must Go', a popular rallying cry against President William Ruto, and 'wantam', meaning 'one term'. Again, AFP saw looting and property destruction in the surrounding area. In its statement, the KNCHR noted the presence of 'criminal gangs wielding crude weapons, including whips, wooden clubs, machetes, spears, bows and arrows' during the protests in a number of counties, including Nairobi, where 'these hooded gangs were seen operating alongside police officers'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In comments to AFP, NPS spokesperson Michael Muchiri said the KNCHR statements 'may lack factualness many times over'. The spokesperson also reiterated that the NPS 'would never work alongside individuals called 'goons' or criminal elements', using the name used for the armed men paid to disrupt demonstrations. Muchiri said in a later statement that 567 people had been arrested during the protests, but did not provide any further details. Kipchumba Murkomen, the interior cabinet secretary, said recent demonstrations had 'been infiltrated by criminals out to cause chaos and destruction'. In a statement on X, he said the looting and violence had been 'markedly reduced' by the officers' presence, but promised those responsible would be 'investigated and charged'. 'Ruto Must Go' Social media and rising economic expectations have fanned anger over inequalities in a country where around 80 percent are trapped in informal, poorly paid jobs. But a crackdown by the police – at least 80 people have died in protests since June last year while dozens have been detained illegally – has scared many off the streets. Nairobi motorbike driver Rogers Onsomu, 32, told AFP that while the town was deserted, he hoped demonstrators would come out later, and criticised Ruto's government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'What he has promised the country, (he) is not delivering,' Onsomu said. Since being elected in 2022, Ruto has forged an uneasy alliance with the main opposition leader Raila Odinga, leaving no clear challenger ahead of the next vote in 2027. But each violent crackdown fuels further unrest, said activist Nerima Wako. 'Every time people organise a protest, they kill more people, so it just continues to feed off itself,' she said. The previous demonstration on June 25 – intended to mark the peak of last year's deadly anti-government rallies – turned violent and left 19 people dead, according to rights groups.
DW
07-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Kenya: At least 10 killed in anti-government protests – DW – 07/07/2025
Clashes between police and protesters have turned violent in Kenya, with police firing tear gas at crowds and security forces blocking off access to central Nairobi. At least 10 people have died in anti-government protests in Kenya as of Monday evening, according a statement released by the state-funded Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). In an attempt to contain the unrest, police closed roads leading into the capital, Nairobi, to block protesters from rallying in the city center, reported Felix Maringa, DW's Nairobi correspondent. A police statement released late Monday said over 560 people were arrested around the country during Monday's protests. The statement estimated that 11 people were killed, and that dozens of police officers were injured. Protesters on Monday were commemorating the July 7 demonstrations, known as "Saba Saba," Swahili for seven seven, the first major protests Kenya that took place 35 years ago. Those protests called for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy, with the first multiparty elections having taken place in 1992. Today, protesters are demanding President William Ruto's resignation over his alleged corruption. Other issues protesters have cited include high cost of living, police brutality and poor governance. Roads leading to parliament, which was stormed during protests against proposed tax increases last year, and the president's office, were barricaded using razor wire. Police officers also stopped pedestrians, vehicles and bikes from entering the city, except for those deemed to have essential duties. Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku had urged all government employees to report to work on Monday, insisting that the demonstrations would not disrupt public services. Most businesses remained closed in the capital as people stayed away. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said that during the demonstrations "certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts." Reports from Nairobi indicated protesters lit bonfires and threw stones at police, while police fired and hurled tear gas canisters, injuring demonstrators. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said in its report Monday evening that numerous police officers were not wearing their uniforms and patrolling the streets in unmarked vehicles, in defiance of a court order that asks officers to be clearly identified by their uniform. "They fire live rounds everywhere. They are not even targeting anyone, then it lands to whoever it will land. The police are being used improperly by the government, they should think about who they are killing. We are not animals, we are human beings like them, and we need to be protected by them. Yet, they are the ones killing us," Nairobi resident Evans Nyakwara told DW. According to the KNCHR, protests took place on Monday in 17 out of Kenya's 47 counties. They mark the latest in a series of widespread demonstrations. "Kenyans have continued to castigate police over what they call heavy handedness when it comes to dealing with protesters, and police have continued dealing very brutally with the protesters," said DW correspondent Maringa. "We have police lobbying teargas into homesteads, we have water canons discharging water into homesteads, but Kenyans have remained adamant that they will remain on the streets until they see the changes that they clamor for come to pass," he added. Kenya's latest wave of violent demonstrations was sparked by calls for police accountability following the death of a blogger in police custody last month. During protests on June 17, a police officer shot a civilian at close range, further angering the public. On June 25, at least 19 people were killed and more than 400 injured during protests against police brutality that were timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of demonstrations against President Ruto's proposed tax hikes. At least 60 people lost their lives in those protests last year, and while Ruto ultimately withdrew the proposed tax bill, mass rallies have taken hold. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Japan Today
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Almost 500 arrested after Kenya protest violence: police
The protests descended into violence and vandalism By Rose TROUP BUCHANAN Kenyan police said Monday that 485 people had been arrested on murder, terrorism, rape and other charges following deadly protests last week. The nationwide protests were initially held to mark a year since massive anti-tax demonstrations, but descended into chaos as young men battled police and destroyed thousands of businesses in Nairobi's business district. The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 19 people were killed and 531 wounded in the looting and violence, which was labelled an "attempted coup" by the interior secretary. The head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said "485 individuals have been arrested in connection to what happened June 25". He said 448 had been charged in court, with 37 remaining "under active investigation". Amin said the charges included "murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, obstruction of police officers while on duty, breaking and stealing, robbery... incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms." "We received credible reports of assault and sexual violence committed by criminals who had earlier infiltrated the demonstrations," he added. The KNHCR said Friday it recorded two cases of rape and two cases of gang rape. Amin said 11 officers were seriously hurt with some sustaining "life-threatening" wounds. He expressed condolences for those who had lost their lives, but said the initially peaceful demonstrations "quickly devolved into orchestrated violence". "A well-coordinated network of criminal actors infiltrated and hijacked these demonstrations," Amin said, adding that they came only to cause "chaos, loot, destroy lives and property". He said officers were "actively pursuing the key planners, the mobilisers, the financiers, and the facilitators behind this scheme, and they will be brought to justice very soon". A coalition of rights groups said there were rallies in 23 counties across Kenya, with emergency responders reporting multiple instances of gunshot wounds. The United Nations has deplored the violence, and called for restraint and calm. Anger over the state of the economy and police brutality has sparked numerous protests since President William Ruto took power in 2022. Proposed tax rises led to weeks of protests in June and July 2024 in which at least 60 people were killed. © 2025 AFP
eNCA
30-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Almost 500 arrested after Kenya protest violence: police
NAIROBI - Kenyan police said Monday that 485 people had been arrested on murder, terrorism, rape and other charges following deadly protests last week. The nationwide protests were initially held to mark a year since massive anti-tax demonstrations, but descended into chaos as young men battled police and destroyed thousands of businesses in Nairobi's business district. The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 19 people were killed and 531 wounded in the looting and violence, which was labelled an "attempted coup" by the interior secretary. The head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said "485 individuals have been arrested in connection to what happened June 25". He said 448 had been charged in court, with 37 remaining "under active investigation". Amin said the charges included "murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, obstruction of police officers while on duty, breaking and stealing, robbery... incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms." "We received credible reports of assault and sexual violence committed by criminals who had earlier infiltrated the demonstrations," he added. The KNHCR said Friday it recorded two cases of rape and two cases of gang rape. Amin said 11 officers were seriously hurt with some sustaining "life-threatening" wounds. AFP | Luis TATO He expressed condolences for those who had lost their lives, but said the initially peaceful demonstrations "quickly devolved into orchestrated violence". "A well-coordinated network of criminal actors infiltrated and hijacked these demonstrations," Amin said, adding that they came only to cause "chaos, loot, destroy lives and property". He said officers were "actively pursuing the key planners, the mobilisers, the financiers, and the facilitators behind this scheme, and they will be brought to justice very soon". A coalition of rights groups said there were rallies in 23 counties across Kenya, with emergency responders reporting multiple instances of gunshot wounds. The United Nations has deplored the violence, and called for restraint and calm. Anger over the state of the economy and police brutality has sparked numerous protests since President William Ruto took power in 2022. Proposed tax rises led to weeks of protests in June and July 2024 in which at least 60 people were killed. By Rose Troup Buchanan
Al-Ahram Weekly
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Almost 500 arrested after Kenya protest violence: Police - Africa
Kenyan police said Monday that 485 people had been arrested on murder, terrorism, rape and other charges following deadly protests last week. The nationwide protests were initially held to mark a year since massive anti-tax demonstrations, but descended into chaos as young men battled police and destroyed thousands of businesses in Nairobi's business district. The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 19 people were killed and 531 wounded in the looting and violence, which was labelled an "attempted coup" by the interior secretary. The head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said "485 individuals have been arrested in connection to what happened June 25". He said 448 had been charged in court, with 37 remaining "under active investigation". Amin said the charges included "murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, obstruction of police officers while on duty, breaking and stealing, robbery... incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms." "We received credible reports of assault and sexual violence committed by criminals who had earlier infiltrated the demonstrations," he added. The KNHCR said Friday it recorded two cases of rape and two cases of gang rape. Amin said 11 officers were seriously hurt with some sustaining "life-threatening" wounds. He expressed condolences for those who had lost their lives, but said the initially peaceful demonstrations "quickly devolved into orchestrated violence". "A well-coordinated network of criminal actors infiltrated and hijacked these demonstrations," Amin said, adding that they came only to cause "chaos, loot, destroy lives and property". He said officers were "actively pursuing the key planners, the mobilisers, the financiers, and the facilitators behind this scheme, and they will be brought to justice very soon". A coalition of rights groups said there were rallies in 23 counties across Kenya, with emergency responders reporting multiple instances of gunshot wounds. The United Nations has deplored the violence, and called for restraint and calm. Anger over the state of the economy and police brutality has sparked numerous protests since President William Ruto took power in 2022. Proposed tax rises led to weeks of protests in June and July 2024 in which at least 60 people were killed. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
