A sobering report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has laid bare the devastating aftermath of the recent Saba Saba protests, revealing that at least 31 people lost their lives during the nationwide demonstrations.
The figure, significantly higher than what was previously acknowledged, has reignited fierce debate over the use of force by security agencies and exposed sharp contradictions between official police accounts and independent findings.
The protests, held annually on July 7th to mark the country’s struggle for multiparty democracy, took a bloody turn this year amid mounting public frustration over the high cost of living and controversial finance laws. What began as a call for accountability and reforms quickly escalated into a violent confrontation between demonstrators and police in various parts of the country, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret.
According to the KNCHR report, the majority of the victims succumbed to gunshot wounds, while others died from injuries inflicted by blunt force trauma. The report also documents numerous cases of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and injuries, adding fuel to growing concerns over the state’s response to civil dissent.
The Kenya Police Service, however, has disputed the figures, claiming that their officers acted with restraint and only used force where necessary to quell lawlessness. In a press statement, police spokesperson Resila Onyango maintained that only six people were confirmed dead, and all were victims of criminal activity, not police action.
Human rights defenders have demanded an independent investigation into the killings and a review of police crowd control tactics. “This level of violence is unacceptable in a democratic society,” said KNCHR Chairperson Roseline Odede. “We urge the state to hold officers accountable and uphold the constitutional right to peaceful protest.”
With tensions still simmering and public trust in state institutions eroding, the KNCHR’s findings are a stark reminder that the fight for justice and accountability in Kenya is far from over.
