At least eight killed in deadly Kenya protests: What we know | Conflict News

Several demonstrators were killed and at least 400 others were injured on Wednesday when antigovial protests In the capital, Nairobi has become fatal.

Kenyan officials have not disclosed the number of victims. Media and rights reports varied, placing the number of deaths between eight and 16.

It is the Last epidemic violence in the country of Eastern Africa where young demonstrators have frequently raised on the street in recent months to protest against a myriad of problems, especially police brutalitygovernment corruption and high taxes.

Wednesday demonstrations were held to mark the bloody on June 25, 2024, demonstrations Against tax increases when the police have opened fire on a large number of demonstrators, killing at least 60, according to rights defense groups.

Here is what we know:

What happened during the demonstrations?

Thousands of people went down to the streets of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii and several other major Kenyan cities in the early hours of Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the violent anti-tax demonstrations in 2024, in particular the murder of 60 demonstrators, June 25 of last year.

Wearing Kenyan flags, the demonstrators chanted slogans like “Ruto must go” and “occupy the state house” in opposition to the government of President William Ruto and refer to his official residence.

The banks and schools in the central Nairobi affairs district were closed in anticipation of demonstrations, and the police had completed the state house, as well as the parliament building, with barbed wire layers. Last yearThe demonstrators burst into the parliament block, chasing politicians and establishing parts of the fire building.

Wednesday’s march was largely peaceful at the start – and much smaller compared to last year’s demonstrations. Nairobi’s scenes, however, became violent later, after “henchmen” or men are infiltrated and armed security officials and clubs attacked the demonstrators. Police also used living fire, rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

The stores and companies in the Nairobi center have also been attacked, looted and burned by unidentified groups among the demonstrators. Some demonstrators have also burned security barricades in the city and physically attacked suspect officers with simple ends.

In the city of Kikuyu, about 20 km (12.5 miles) from Nairobi, demonstrators stormed and burnt down local government buildings, including a police station and a courtroom. Some were arrested by the police but were not identified. In other cities, including Mombasa, the steps remained peaceful.

Clashes have also been reported in the cities of Matuu and Mlolongo in the east of the county of Machakos, about 100 km (62 miles) from the capital. Violence has also been reported in Karatina, in the county of Nyeri.

How many people have been killed?

The figures vary and the Kenyan authorities have not confirmed the number of deaths.

According to a joint declaration published Wednesday evening by Kenya Medical Association, the Barrey Society of Kenya and the working group of police reforms, eight people were killed, most of them in Nairobi. The group said that 400 others were treated for injuries, including three police officers. Among these, 83 people suffered serious injuries, including at least eight demonstrators treated for ball injury.

However, Irungu Houghton, the chief of Amnesty Kenya, told Reuters that 16 people had died, adding that this figure had been checked by the Global Rights Watchtow and the National Kenya Commission on Human Rights (KNDHR).

Security goalkeeper Fred Wamale Wanyonyi, who was in service to keep a shopping center in the center of Nairobi, was one of those confirmed, according to rights for defense.

What were the demonstrations?

The demonstrators had gathered to mark the anniversary of the anti-fiscal demonstrations of last year, in which around sixty people were killed by the police, although no civil servant was punished.

The activists said it was important for the Kenyans to remember bloody demonstrations of 2024.

“It is extremely important that young people mark on June 25 because they have lost people who look like them, who speak to them … who fight for good governance,” AFP Angel Mbuthia, president of the Youth League for the Jubilee opposition, told the news agency.

Wednesday, demonstrators also demanded the reversal of the Ruto government and called at the end of police brutality, corruption and general economic difficulties in the country.

The demonstrator Osman Mohamed told Al Jazeera at the scene of the demonstrations he was there to better demand from the leaders of the country.

“The government takes us like a joke. They do not want to listen to us … They do not listen to us as citizens. We are the people, and they are supposed to listen to because of the power of the people,” he said.

Tensions had increased in recent weeks after the blogger and 31 -year -old teacher Albert Ojwang Died in police custody from June 7 to 8.

The murder of Ojwang caused indignation and demonstrations across the country, people calling on the officers involved punished. Lagat, who denies any reprehensible act, left his post last week while waiting for the outcome of an investigation. Three officers were accused of the murder of Ojwang this week.

How did the authorities respond to these demonstrations?

The demonstrations were planned and the authorities had been informed of it, said rights activists. Elijah Rottok, of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, told Al Jazeera that the protest organizers had received insurance from government officials whom they would have authorized the space to protest peacefully. Despite this, he said, there was clear evidence of excessive force in the police response.

“We have seen a deliberate use of force to delete (demonstrations),” he said. “We condemn the excessive appeal of force … They must respect the rule of law and ensure that human rights are confirmed at any time.”

The authorities closed live coverage of demonstrations on Wednesday afternoon, but this directive was then canceled by the High Court of Nairobi, which ordered Kenya’s communication authority to restore the signals to three independent television stations.

On Wednesday, Ruto, who attended a burial in the coastal city of Kilifi, called on the demonstrations to remain peaceful in a press release.

“The demonstrations should not be to destroy peace in Kenya. We do not have another country where to go when things go wrong. It is our responsibility to keep our country safe,” he said.

What were the demonstrations of June 2024?

Violent demonstrations shook the country from June 18, 2024, after Ruto announced a controversial financing bill, a tax law which, according to many, would make essential products more expensive, because the country was seized by an economic crisis which had seen the value of the Kenyan shilling drop by 22%.

The young people largely directed the demonstrations, which lasted more than a week, but the older Kenyans also filled the streets of anger. Although the legislators have withdrawn certain clauses from the bill before passing it on, the demonstrations continued, the demonstrators calling for Ruto to resign. Officials insisted that higher taxes were necessary for the government to conclude loan agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

On June 25, demonstrators burst into the Kenyan Parliament, where legislators summoned. The demonstrators ransacked the building and set up its entry into fire. In response, the police opened fire, killing at least 60 people and removing several others, including some journalists.

Ruto withdrew the invoice June 26, but violence continued. Human Rights Watch reported that after manifestations, the bodies of some of the missing appeared in rivers, forests and mortuaries and have shown signs of torture and mutilation. Some kidnapped have told the rights group that they had been led by officials who forced them to reveal the names of protest leaders.

What will happen next?

Calm returned to Nairobi on Thursday morning, although the devastation is obvious.

Smoke still amounted to at least 10 burned buildings in downtown Nairobi while business owners returned to ransacked and looted stores in the central business district.

In Parliament, Ruto hosted the new 2025 financial bill, from which the tax increases had been deleted. However, a controversial proposal that will see Kenya returned Authority has been welcomed to the personal and financial data of taxpayers was included.

It is not yet known whether or how the legislators plan to respond to the demands of the demonstrators.