Police fire tear gas and water cannons at protesters in Kenya as thousands take to the streets
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Kenya demonstrations: Police fire tear gas and water cannons at protesters as thousands take to the streets
Kenyan police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. Thousands took to the streets to mark the first anniversary of anti-government demonstrations. Last June, many were killed by security forces outside Parliament, drawing nationwide outrage. Many of Kenya’s youth are still enraged over several cases of alleged police brutality, including the death of a teacher in police custody and the shooting of an unarmed street vendor. The demonstrations in 2024 forced the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill that raised taxes on the wealthy and middle-class. in the capital of Nairobi, the coastal city of Mombasa and other towns.
Kenyan police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters as thousands took to the streets to mark the first anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that left dozens dead.
The government regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya, has ordered all television and radio stations in the country to stop broadcasting live coverage of protests of the youth-led march, which began Wednesday.
The government agency falsely claimed live coverage of the demonstrations violated Kenyan laws, while threatening regulatory action for non-compliance with the directive. Many of the stations did not immediately cease broadcasting, including CNN affiliate Citizen TV.
Thousands of people took to Kenya’s streets in protest on June 25, including in the capital city. Festo Lang/CNN
Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital of Nairobi, the coastal city of Mombasa and other towns to mark the protest anniversary.
In Nairobi, roads leading to the Kenyan Parliament building and the president’s office were barricaded ahead of the demonstrations.
Last June, many were killed by security forces outside Parliament, drawing nationwide outrage.
A protester reacts in front of a burning barricade in downtown Nairobi on Wednesday. Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
People protested on the first anniversary of deadly anti-tax demonstrations. Brian Inganga/AP
Security officers gather near a razor wire fence erected to block access to the Parliament buildings. Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
The demonstrations in 2024 forced the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill that raised taxes.
However, many of Kenya’s youth are still enraged over several cases of alleged police brutality, including the death of a teacher in police custody and the shooting of an unarmed street vendor.
CNN witnessed police shooting live rounds in Nairobi to disperse peaceful protesters Wednesday. Several of the demonstrators showed spent cartridges.
Demonstrators were also repelled with tear gas and water cannon trucks in the capital – reminiscent of last year’s dramatic scenes.
Police officers are seen during demonstrations in Kenya’s capital on June 25. Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
Citizen TV posted a video on X showing injured people being wheeled into a Nairobi hospital.
In Mombasa, some protesters were arrested and hauled into police trucks, another video showed.
One person is reported to have been killed during demonstrations in eastern Kenya’s Machakos County on Wednesday morning, according to Citizen TV.
Amnesty International Kenya shared a statement saying eight protesters were killed Wednesday and at least another 400 were injured. The statement, signed by groups including the Law Society of Kenya, Police Reforms Working Group and the Kenya Medical Association, said 83 of those hurt had serious injuries and at least eight protesters were treated for gunshot wounds.
CNN could not immediately verify the casualty figures but has asked the police service for comment.
‘Over 100 injured and hospitalised in Kenya unrest’
Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year’s demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. Some protesters clashed with police, and an official at the capital’s main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people.
The casualties included people hit by live fire and others who sustained wounds from rubber bullets or other objects.
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 cannon to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness.
It was not immediately clear who had shot them, and Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the injuries.
Some protesters clashed with police, and an official at the capital’s main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people.
“As at 1600 hours, 56 patients had been admitted at KNH from the protest related injuries. Majority had rubber bullet injuries,” the hospital source told Reuters, adding that no deaths had been reported at KNH.
The source and Kenya’s Citizen Television had earlier reported that at least 10 people were hospitalised.
Large crowds were seen heading in the direction of State House, the president’s office, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it was pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations.
The Communications Authority of Kenya’s order was condemned by the Kenya Editors Guild, which called it “a gross violation of the Constitution.”
“We have been switched off from all the signal broadcasters, now we are only live on YouTube and the website,” a senior official at NTV’s parent Nation Media Group told Reuters.
Kenyan broadcaster KTN was also taken off air, it said on its Telegram channel, adding that it would continue to offer live coverage on YouTube, Facebook, and X.
Sixteen deaths recorded in Kenya protests, most killed by police, Amnesty Kenya says
Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year’s demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. Amnesty Kenya’s executive director Irungu Houghton said 16 people were “verified dead” as of 8:30. The government-funded KNCHR earlier said eight deaths had been reported across the country, all “allegedly from gunshot wounds” State-funded body Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said in a statement at least 61 people were arrested during the protests, including police officers, demonstrators, journalists and a security guard. The protests come a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill culminated in the storming of parliament, sparking the biggest crisis of President William Ruto’s presidency and alarm among Kenya’s international allies. “We want justice,” Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters.
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NAIROBI, June 25 (Reuters) – Sixteen people died during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday, most of them killed by police, the head of Amnesty Kenya said, a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill culminated in the storming of parliament.
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, according to local media and a Reuters witness.
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Some protesters clashed with police, and 16 people were “verified dead as of 8:30”, Amnesty Kenya’s executive director Irungu Houghton told Reuters, adding that the figures were verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
“Most were killed by police,” Houghton said, adding that at least five of the victims had been shot dead.
The government-funded KNCHR earlier said eight deaths had been reported across the country, all “allegedly from gunshot wounds”.
“Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists,” KNCHR said in a statement shared on its official X account.
The watchdog noted heavy police deployment and “allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting in numerous injuries”.
Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the statements by Amnesty Kenya or KNCHR.
State-funded body Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said in a statement at least 61 people were arrested during the protests.
An official at the capital’s main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people.
Item 1 of 9 Smoke and fire rise at the site after riot police officers dispersed protesters during demonstrations in Nairobi, Kenya, June 25. REUTERS/John Muchucha [1/9] Smoke and fire rise at the site after riot police officers dispersed protesters during demonstrations in Nairobi, Kenya, June 25. REUTERS/John Muchucha Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
“107 admitted, most with gunshot injuries,” the source said, referring to rubber bullets and live rounds. He added that no deaths had been reported at KNH.
National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi.
Large crowds were seen earlier heading in the direction of State House, the president’s official residence, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another broadcaster KTN were pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations.
Both channels resumed broadcasts later on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi suspended the order issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya.
ANGER AGAINST POLICE
Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri.
Although last year’s protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with fresh demonstrations , opens new tab this month over the death of a blogger in police custody.
Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty.
“We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25… we want justice,” Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi.
The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto’s presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya’s international allies.
Reporting by Nairobi newsroom; Writing by Ammu Kannampilly; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Bernadette Baum, Philippa Fletcher and Daniel Wallis
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‘We want the government to work with us’ says one protester. “They shoot us actually with live bullets. Not rubber bullets,” he adds.
Ian Wafula
Reporting from Nairobi
Another of the protesters on the streets of Nairobi was Mohammed.
“We have our rights as civilians and as citizens of Kenya. We want the government to stop extrajudicial killing. And we want the government to actually work together with us.
“These guys have been killing our cousins. If you try to protest, these people just come and try to shoot.
“They shoot us actually with live bullets. Not rubber bullets.”
Kenyan Gen Z protests in Nairobi leave eight dead, doctors say
‘We want the government to work with us’ says one protester. “They shoot us actually with live bullets. Not rubber bullets,” he adds.
Ian Wafula
Reporting from Nairobi
Another of the protesters on the streets of Nairobi was Mohammed.
“We have our rights as civilians and as citizens of Kenya. We want the government to stop extrajudicial killing. And we want the government to actually work together with us.
“These guys have been killing our cousins. If you try to protest, these people just come and try to shoot.
“They shoot us actually with live bullets. Not rubber bullets.”