The Head of Amnesty International in Kenya said Irũngũ Houghton has disclosed that 16 people died during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya yesterday and most of them were killed by Police, a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill culminated in the storming of Parliament.
This comes after thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year’s demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died, with Police firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in the capital Nairobi.
Houghton told journalists and added that the figures were verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights which earlier said that 8 deaths had been reported across the country, all allegedly from gunshot wounds.
The Amnesty International noted heavy Police deployment and allegations of excessive use of force, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting into over 400 injuries, but the Kenyan Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the statements by Amnesty but the State-funded body Independent Policing Oversight Authority said in a statement at least 61 people were arrested during the protests.
“Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, Police officers and journalists,” the Kenya National Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement shared on Social Media.
An official at the capital Nairobimain Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people, but 107 people are admitted, most with gunshot injuries after rubber bullets and live rounds were directed on the demonstrators but no deaths have been reported.
National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi.
