The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has confirmed that 31 people were killed during Monday’s nationwide anti-government protests, more than triple the initial toll of 10. The commission also reported two forced disappearances and over 100 injuries, in what has become one of the deadliest days of unrest in the country’s recent history.
The protests, held on Saba Saba Day — a commemoration of the July 7, 1990 uprising against autocratic rule — descended into violence as clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces. The KNCHR accused police of cooperating with armed gangs in parts of Nairobi and other regions, further escalating the chaos.
According to the commission’s latest update, 532 people were arrested and 107 injured across the country. “The KNCHR strongly condemns all human rights violations and urges accountability from all responsible parties, including police, civilians and all other stakeholders,” it said in a statement Tuesday evening.
The protests, largely driven by youth discontent over economic hardship, corruption, and police brutality, have gripped Kenya since June 2024, when proposed tax hikes sparked widespread outrage. With Monday’s violence, the total number of protest-related deaths since the demonstrations began has now exceeded 100.
