At least 31 people died during Kenya’s Saba Saba protests, with over 100 injured and 500 arrested.
Rights groups blame police brutality and urge accountability from President Ruto’s government.
Kenya is reeling from another wave of deadly protests after at least 31 people were confirmed dead, 107 others wounded, and 532 arrested during nationwide Saba Saba Day demonstrations on Monday, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The violent clashes, which erupted across 20 of Kenya’s 47 counties, saw protesters face off with heavily armed police forces amid mounting frustrations over economic hardship, police brutality, and governance failures. The KNCHR also reported two forced disappearances linked to the unrest.
Monday’s demonstrations marked Saba Saba Day, commemorated annually on July 7 to honor the 1990 pro-democracy uprising that challenged the regime of former President Daniel Arap Moi. This year’s march was part of a broader wave of youth-led antigovernment protests that began in June 2024 following a controversial tax proposal.
Participants have since expanded their demands to include President William Ruto’s resignation, improved governance, and accountability for police violence. However, authorities have responded with increasing force.
The KNCHR has accused security forces of excessive use of force, alleging that police worked in tandem with armed civilian gangs wielding machetes and spears. There was widespread destruction of property, including vandalized supermarkets, especially in Nairobi and Eldoret.
“The KNCHR strongly condemns all human rights violations and urges accountability from all responsible parties, including police, civilians and all other stakeholders,” the commission stated.
The Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working Group criticized the police for operating with military-grade weapons, using unmarked vehicles, and concealing their identities, actions they say defy court orders.
The groups documented violations in multiple counties, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Kakamega. The violence adds to a rising death toll since the protests began last year, now reportedly exceeding 100.
In a statement released before the revised death count, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed deep concern over reports of lethal force used against demonstrators.
“We are alarmed by reports that police and security forces used lethal force to quell violent demonstrations in Nairobi and across the country,” the OHCHR said.
Domestically, the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a presidentially appointed body, urged political leaders to avoid stoking ethnic tensions and called out police excesses during the crackdown.
Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stoked fears of further violence by ordering police to “shoot on sight” anyone who approached stations during protests. The directive came after several police facilities were reportedly attacked and set ablaze.
With public trust eroding and civil unrest growing, pressure is mounting on President Ruto’s administration to pursue meaningful dialogue and halt the militarization of protest responses. Rights groups and international observers continue to call for independent investigations, justice for victims, and accountability for human rights violations.
The Saba Saba protests have exposed deep cracks in Kenya’s political stability, amplifying fears of a broader democratic backslide if tensions remain unresolved.
