NAIROBI – Sixteen people were killed across Kenya on Wednesday during large-scale anti-government protests, with most deaths caused by police action, according to Amnesty Kenya. The demonstrations marked one year since deadly tax protests rocked the country and culminated in the storming of parliament.
Thousands gathered in Nairobi and other cities to commemorate those killed in last year’s unrest and to demand justice. The protests, which turned violent in parts of the capital, were met with tear gas, water cannons, and what rights groups described as excessive force by police.
Amnesty Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton confirmed the death toll, saying, “Most were killed by police.” At least five of the victims had been shot, he told Reuters. The data, verified by Amnesty and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), also included over 400 injured — a count that spans protesters, journalists, and police officers.
KNCHR earlier reported eight deaths, all “allegedly from gunshot wounds,” and described the security response as involving rubber bullets, live ammunition, and widespread injuries. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said 61 people were arrested during the protests.
Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi admitted more than 100 people, most with gunshot wounds, according to a hospital official. While no fatalities were recorded at the facility, the casualty count grew throughout the day.
Among the dead was a security guard working for Kenya Power, shot during a patrol near the company’s Nairobi headquarters.
The protests also affected national broadcasters. NTV and KTN were briefly taken off air after defying a government directive to stop live coverage. Both stations later resumed operations after a Nairobi court suspended the broadcast ban.
The unrest extended to other towns including Mombasa, Kisii, Kitengela, Matuu, and Nyeri. Demonstrators marched toward the State House in Nairobi, echoing last year’s mass mobilization that turned tragic when police opened fire as protesters breached the gates of parliament.
Public outrage remains high over alleged police brutality and a recent string of deaths linked to security forces. On Tuesday, three police officers and three others were charged with the murder of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died in custody earlier this month. All six pleaded not guilty.
Ojwang’s case has become a rallying cry, with protesters demanding accountability for both his death and those killed in last year’s demonstrations. “We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25,” said Lumumba Harmony, a protester in Nairobi. “We want justice.”
