On Wednesday, nationwide protests in Kenya against police brutality and poor governance resulted in at least 16 deaths, according to the state-funded human rights commission. The unrest, fueled by anger over police violence, including the recent death of a blogger in custody, saw demonstrations in 23 of the country’s 47 counties. Thousands of frustrated young Kenyans took to the streets, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding the resignation of President William Ruto.
The protests turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police in downtown Nairobi, leading to the burning of two police stations and looting of businesses. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen assessed the damage in Nairobi, where many shops were raided. He indicated that police would pursue suspects identified by CCTV footage.
As families mourned the deceased, one relative, Fatma Opango, spoke about her 17-year-old nephew who was shot in the Rongai area. “I started searching for him at the hospitals hoping he had survived,” she recounted, having only seen his photo online. Murkomen defended police actions, stating that they acted to prevent a coup and insisting that no excesses occurred during the protests.
The protests were organized via social media to mark the anniversary of last year’s anti-tax demonstrations, during which at least 60 people died. In a precautionary measure, key establishments such as Parliament and the President’s office were barricaded with razor wire, preventing protesters access to these sites. As the situation unfolded, business owners were left to reckon with significant losses from the chaos.
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