Latest news with #antiGovernmentProtests
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Death toll from Kenya's latest anti-government protest surges to 31
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The death toll from Kenya's anti-government protests on Monday has surged to 31, marking the highest single-day toll since the demonstrations began earlier this year, the state-funded human rights commission said Tuesday. It said another 107 people were injured and more than 500 were arrested amid widespread destruction of property, including supermarkets. The arrest figure largely tracked with the one issued by police. The death toll did not say whether any security forces were included. For weeks, youth and other citizens have taken to the streets to protest against police brutality and poor governance and to demand President William Ruto's resignation over alleged corruption and the rising cost of living. Ruto has not commented on Monday's protest or its toll. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, on Tuesday urged that the grievances leading to the protests are addressed. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said he 'renews his call for calm and restraint, and full respect for the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.' Monday's demonstrations, which were met with police roadblocks preventing access to downtown Nairobi, were planned to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba pro-democracy protests. Saba Saba is Swahili for Seven Seven. July 7 holds deep significance in Kenya, marking the first major pro-democracy protests in 1990 that called on then-President Daniel arap Moi — Ruto's political mentor — to transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. That demand was realized during the 1992 general elections. This year's wave of protests was sparked by a blogger's death in police custody last month. Police shot a civilian at close range during a protest on June 17. On June 25, thousands of youths turned out across the country. A total of 50 people have been killed in the protests over the last two weeks. The Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a government body whose commissioners are appointed by the president, on Tuesday urged politicians not to fuel ethnic tensions and criticized police for using excessive force towards protesters. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen last week told police to 'shoot on sight' anyone who approaches police stations during protests after several were burned. The public anger has built on Ruto's efforts to make Kenyans pay more to help pay off massive government debt. Last year, thousands of young people protesting rising taxes stormed parliament, leading Ruto to promise to cut government spending. With some people taking advantage of the chaos, some businesses have said they have lost large amounts of goods. 'They invaded our shop, and by the way, we have lost so many things. We lost cash, phones, a lot of them,' mobile phone seller Nancy Gicharu said.
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UN says ‘deeply troubled' by Kenya protest killings
GENEVA: The United Nations on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the deaths of at least 10 people in Kenya where police and protesters clashed during anti-government demonstrations the previous violence erupted on Saba Saba Day (meaning Seven Seven) when demonstrators annually mark the events of 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.'We are deeply troubled by the killings yesterday of at least 10 people, as well as looting and destruction of property in Kenya,' UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in said that 'lethal ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons were used' as police responded to the highlighted that Kenyan police had reported that at least 11 people were killed, 52 police officers injured and 567 arrests Kenya National Commission on Human Rights meanwhile reported at least 10 deaths, 29 injuries, 37 arrests and two abductions, she added.'We have also received reports of looting and damage to public and private property by unidentified individuals in multiple locations.'Shamdasani said the violence came 'barely two weeks after 15 protesters were reportedly killed and many more injured in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya on 25 June.'UN rights chief Volker Turk renews 'his call for calm and restrain, and full respect for the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly,' she said.'It is essential that legitimate grievances at the root of these protests are addressed,' the spokeswoman UN rights office noted that Kenyan police had announced an investigation into earlier stressed that 'under international human rights law, intentional lethal force by law enforcement officers, including with firearms, should only be used when strictly necessary to protect life from an imminent threat.'Turk reiterates 'his call for all reported killings and other alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law, including with respect to use of force, to be promptly, thoroughly, independently and transparently investigated,' she said.'Those responsible must be held to account.'
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
10 dead, dozens arrested in more anti-government protests in Kenya
July 7 (UPI) -- At least 10 people were shot dead and 29 injured in Kenya as anti-government protests erupted after restarting early last month. Two bodies initially were taken to Eagle Nursing Home in Kangemi, on the outskirts of the capital city of Nairobi, after suffering apparent gunshot wounds. Hundreds of protestors gathered outside the hospital to demand the bodies, local medic Dr. Aron Sikuku told the BBC. "Police operated in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles" on Monday and collaborated with "armed criminal gangs in Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Kiambu, and Eldoret," according to the state-run Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KHRC) in a scathing report on excessive police force. Kenyan police officials have denied such previous accusations. On Sunday, Kenyan security agencies were "on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem, or destruction of property," Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen posted on X earlier that day. Meanwhile, government officials have yet to confirm Monday's reported fatalities. The demonstrations marked the 35th anniversary of Kenya's Saba Saba protests, meaning "seven-seven," which launched in 1990 to push for multiparty democracy in the African nation. Reports indicate that hundreds of early morning commuters and overnight travelers were stranded in Nairobi, with few vehicles allowed to enter the city. Also, the road to key government sites -- such as Kenya's parliament building and the presidential residence -- were barricaded with razor wire. According to the Nation, a leading Kenyan newspaper, the nationwide demonstrations spread to at least 17 of Kenya's 47 counties. Some school officials advised students to remain home over fears of violence. Tear gas and water cannons were used by authorities as clashes broke out and fires lit in parts of Nairobi in attempts to breach police barricades. Hundreds were stranded by midmorning inside and outside the center of the city, with major roads closed and many commuters unable to afford to pay extra money for transit to their destination. "We want the government to engage in a dialogue with Gen Zs so all this can come to an end," Humphrey Gumbishi, a bus driver, told the BBC. He said they started traveling at 8:30 p.m. local time Sunday night only to find police blocks. The ongoing demonstrations, largely led by Gen-Z participants, have demanded greater accountability, good governance and justice for victims of police brutality. The continued wave of deadly anti-government protests started last year against President William Ruto's unpopular tax policies amid rising everyday costs as scores of Kenyans were killed at the time after storming parliament in June 2024. At least 19 citizens were killed a few weeks ago on June 25 as thousands of businesses were looted and destroyed in one day as violent activity gripped the country and government officials banned live TV coverage in attempts to quell violence. In early June, protests again erupted, spurred by the questionable death in police custody of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang. On Sunday, the Kenyan Human Rights Commission claimed "hired goons" allegedly "sent by the state to silence dissent" stormed the NGO's office and "violently" disrupted a press conference by Kenyan mothers "calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings targeting protesters ahead of Saba Saba demonstrations." Ex-Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga canceled a scheduled appearance in Nairobi, saying "the roadblocks all over town which made it difficult for people to make it to Kamukunji" meant he did not "join Kenyans in commemorating this important day." Odinga was arrested last year after Saba Saba but then threw his support to Ruto's government. Ruto was declared the winner with just over 50% of the vote versus Odinga's 48.8% in the African nation's August 2022 presidential election in which the opposition party leader suggested was not a free or fair vote. On Monday, he blasted what he described as Kenya's "rogue police force that shoots people with impunity, a force inherited from the colonialists," and called for a national dialogue on reforming Kenyan police agencies.
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Photos of deadly anti-government protests in Kenya
Police used water cannons to scatter anti-government demonstrations that turned deadly in the Kangemi area of Nairobi marking the historic 1990 Saba Saba, a Swahili word that means 'Seven Seven.' July 7 is a significant date in Kenya's history, marking the first major protests 35 years ago that called for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. Anti-government protests have focusing on police brutality and poor governance, while demanding President William Ruto's resignation over alleged corruption and the high cost of living. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Sky News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Ten killed in Kenya as protesters clash with police
Ten people have been killed in Kenya after clashing with police at the latest anti-government protests, a state-funded human rights commission has said. A further 29 people were injured, the Kenya National Commission added. Some Kenyans have for weeks been protesting police brutality, poor governance and the high cost of living, while demanding President William Ruto's resignation. Authorities today blocked major roads leading to the capital, Nairobi, in the strictest measures yet to contain the unrest, which saw protesters light bonfires and throw stones at police. Officers fired and hurled tear gas canisters, injuring demonstrators. One young man being carried away, with his shirt drenched in blood, said he had been shot. A reporter for Reuters news agency said they saw one man lying motionless on the road with a bleeding wound after police fired at advancing protesters in the Nairobi suburb of Kangemi. As well as blocking vehicles from accessing Nairobi's city centre, police also stopped most pedestrians unless they were deemed to have essential duties. Protests were recorded across 17 of Kenya's 47 counties, the Kenya National Commission said. In Kenya, 7 July is known as Saba Saba, which is Swahili for Seven Seven. It's a significant date in Kenya 's history and marks the anniversary of the first major protests 35 years ago. Those demonstrations called on then-President Daniel arap Moi - Mr Ruto's mentor - for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. This change was realised in the 1992 elections. A professor of history and international relations at United States International University Africa in Nairobi said there is "no reversing the Gen Z Saba Saba-like spirit". Macharia Munene said: "Attempt to criminalise protests is reactive and will not work. "It instead makes the government appear retrogressive and desperate enough to subvert the constitution." Kenya's interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and police would be deployed to ensure public safety. Last month, he told police to "shoot on sight" anyone who approaches police stations during protests, after several were burned. Kenya's latest wave of demonstrations was sparked by calls for police accountability after the death of a blogger in police custody last month. A police officer then shot a civilian at close range during a protest on 17 June, further angering the public. On 25 June, at least 19 people were killed during demonstrations against police brutality that were held to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests.
