NAIROBI, Kenya — A significant surge in fatalities was observed following Wednesday’s nationwide demonstrations in Kenya, with the death toll rising to 16 as confirmed by the country’s human rights commission.
The protests, marked by widespread youth discontent, escalated dramatically with cases of arson targeting public properties, including at least two police stations that were set ablaze by furious activists.
Across 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties, citizens voiced their frustration against police brutality and demanded improved governance. The demonstrations saw thousands chanting against the administration, urging President William Ruto to step down.
The unrest was notably fueled by public outrage over a blogger’s death while in police custody and the subsequent shooting of a civilian during protests about the incident.
On Thursday, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen visited various businesses in Nairobi to assess the damages inflicted during the chaos. Looting was rampant, and authorities promised to pursue expedited legal action against culprits identified through surveillance footage.
Tragically, at least two families have made the grim discovery of their deceased relatives at a Nairobi morgue. A heartbroken Fatma Opango related her ordeal, sharing how she found out that her 17-year-old nephew was fatally shot in the Rongai area near the capital.
“I came across his image online and frantically searched for him in hospitals, hoping for the best,” Opango recounted amid tears at the morgue.
Minister Murkomen defended the conduct of police officers throughout the protests, asserting that law enforcement acted appropriately.
“Officers did not commit any violations; they suppressed an uprising and warrant our support,” Murkomen stated, emphasizing that firearms are not mere “toys” in the hands of law enforcement.
Downtown Nairobi bore witness to the aftermath, with business owners lamenting their losses due to looting and fires, some still smoldering the following morning. A cellphone vendor highlighted her predicament, estimating her losses at around 800,000 Kenya shillings ($6,000).
Social media played a pivotal role in organizing the demonstrations, held to mark the anniversary of past anti-tax protests, which previously resulted in substantial casualties when the aggrieved stormed parliament.
During the unrest, key government institutions such as parliament and the president’s office were heavily fortified with razor wire, effectively blocking protestors from reaching these locations.