Kenya: at least 10 dead in ongoing protests, 29 injured nationwide
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Protesters clash with riot police on Saba Saba Day in Nairobi. Major roads were blocked as demonstrations swept across the country.
Kenya Protests: At Least 10 Dead, 29 Injured Nationwide
Saba Saba demonstrations turn violent as police clash with protesters across the country
Nairobi, Kenya – At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and 29 injured nationwide following anti-government protests that erupted across Kenya on Monday, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The protests, held on July 7 – known as Saba Saba, saw demonstrators take to the streets demanding an end to police brutality, rampant corruption, and the high cost of living under President William Ruto’s administration.
Police have reported 11 deaths and noted that numerous officers were injured, though their tally of civilian injuries remains far lower than that reported by the rights watchdog.
Clashes in Nairobi
In Nairobi, police clashed with demonstrators after blocking major roads into the city centre. Security forces used tear gas and fired rounds to disperse crowds, while protesters erected bonfires, hurled stones, and set up roadblocks.
Associated Press journalists at the scene witnessed an injured protester being carried by chanting demonstrators.
Police blocked most private and public vehicles from accessing the capital and restricted pedestrian entry, only allowing essential workers to pass.
The roads leading to parliament and the president’s office were barricaded with razor wire.
Government Response
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen warned Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and pledged to deploy police to ensure public safety.
Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku insisted that government employees report to work on Monday, stating that demonstrations would not disrupt public services.
Historical Significance of Saba Saba
The protests were deliberately held on Saba Saba Day — July 7 — a date that commemorates the pro-democracy movement of 1990, when Kenyans demanded the end of the one-party state and the establishment of multiparty democracy. Those early demonstrations eventually led to Kenya’s landmark 1992 multiparty elections.
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The symbolism of Saba Saba adds emotional and political weight to the current movement, with protestors now using the occasion to express anger over the government’s handling of the economy and perceived repression of civil rights.
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