In Nairobi, Kenya, the death toll from nationwide protests over police brutality and poor governance has surged to 16, according to the state-funded human rights commission. The protests, which took place in 23 of the country’s 47 counties, involved thousands of frustrated young Kenyans demanding an end to police violence and calling for President William Ruto’s resignation. Tensions escalated as protesters clashed with police, especially in downtown Nairobi, where law enforcement used tear gas to disperse crowds.
The unrest was largely fueled by the recent controversial death of a blogger while in police custody and the shooting of a civilian during demonstrations. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen visited Nairobi to assess damage to businesses, noting that many stores had been vandalized and looted. He promised to collaborate with shop owners whose CCTV footage could help identify criminals involved in the looting. Among the deceased was a 17-year-old relative of Fatma Opango, who shared her anguish upon discovering her nephew’s fate.
Murkomen defended the police’s actions during the protests, asserting that they were merely trying to maintain order. He emphasized that officers did not act excessively and argued that they were simply performing their duties. Meanwhile, business owners faced significant losses as looters targeted shops, with one individual reporting a loss of 800,000 Kenyan shillings (approximately $6,000).
The protests were organized via social media to coincide with the one-year anniversary of massive anti-tax demonstrations, which previously resulted in at least 60 fatalities, with 20 individuals still unaccounted for. Key locations, including the parliament and the president’s office, were barricaded to prevent access during the unrest.
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