Protesters blocking riad with lit tyres and stones in Kirinyaga County. KNCHR has reported 10 deaths following the protest. Photo: Reuters.
According to a statement by Kenya National commission of Human Rights (KNCHR) as of 18:30pm, 10 people are reportedly dead from chaotic protests witnessed during historical Saba Saba Day commemoration across the country.
In the statement by KNCHR, 29 people were injured, two cases of abductions reported and 37 arrests recorded across 17 counties where protests were witnessed.
“As of 180hrs today, the Commission had documented ten (10) fatalities, twenty-nine (29) injuries, two (2) cases of abductions and thirty-seven (37) arrests across seventeen (17) counties,” read a statement by KNCHR.
KNCHR has further noted the move by police officers to barricade major roads and entry points, which notably disrupted movement of people especially in Nairobi. Other counties that witnessed erected roadblocks include Kiambu, Meru, Kisii, Nyeri, Nakuru and Embu.
“Many citizens were unable to report to work, despite the directive issued yesterday by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Geoffrey Ruku, requiring all government employees to report to work without fail,” further read the statement.
Six counties have recorded looting and destruction according to KNCHR, with many businesses remaining closed for fear of looting by goons who had infiltrated peaceful protests by Gen Zs, as Kerugoya Central CDF offices were set on fire. Other activities disrupted by the protests include learning, as schools asked parents not to send children to school.
“The Commission received distress calls from patients unable to access health facilities due to road closures. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at roadblocks as public transport including air and rail, was severely disrupted,” KNCHR noted.
The Commission further faulted the National Police Service (NPS), for continued violation of High Court ruling that ruled all police officers deployed to manage protests to be in uniform, remain identifiable. During protests a majority of officers were covered with masks, hoods and in civilian clothes, while travelling in unmarked vehicles while patrolling Nairobi and Kajiado.
“The presence of criminal gangs wielding crude weapons, including whips, wooden clubs, machetes, spear, bows and arrows, was noted in Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and Eldoret. In Nairobi and Eldoret, these hooded gangs were seen operating alongside police officers,” KNCHR stated.
