The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has revised the death toll from Monday’s anti-government protests to 31, up from the previously reported 11, sparking widespread public outrage and demands for justice.
More than 100 people were injured and 532 arrested during the nationwide protests, which affected 17 of Kenya’s 47 counties, including the capital Nairobi, according to the commission. The protests, initially organized to mark Kenya’s long-standing struggle for democracy, quickly descended into violent clashes.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed deep concern over the “alarming number of killings” and condemned Kenyan police for using live ammunition and excessive force on civilians. UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani confirmed that weapons such as lethal ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons were used on protesters.
Among the casualties was a 12-year-old pupil in Kiambu, reportedly struck by a stray bullet while inside her home.
The unrest comes amid heightened national tensions, following the recent death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody. Protesters many from the Gen-Z generation—took to the streets under chants like “Ruto must go” and “wantam” (short for “one term”), a demand for President William Ruto to leave office after just one term.
The KNCHR also documented incidents of looting, destruction of public and private property, and attacks on hospitals, including the theft of medical equipment and harassment of healthcare workers.
Despite the rising civilian death toll, Kenyan police still maintain the figure stands at 11, while Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen praised security forces for their handling of the situation, blaming the violence on criminal infiltration.
In response, opposition leaders accused the government of state-sponsored violence, alleging that armed gangs were transported in unmarked police vehicles to opposition strongholds. They have called for a national boycott of businesses linked to the Ruto administration.
“This regime is hostile. It cannot be reasoned with. It must be resisted. We will not rest. We will not retreat. We will not surrender,” the opposition declared in a joint statement.
Chief Justice Martha Koome warned that the continued violence threatens Kenya’s democratic stability, urging restraint from both protesters and security forces.
Since 2023, over 140 people have been killed in protests, according to a tally by The Star newspaper, raising urgent calls for an independent investigation into the use of force, arbitrary arrests, and loss of life.