The number of casualties from the recent protests across Kenya has climbed to 19 dead and 15 reported missing, according to the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the violent demonstrations, which took place on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of last year’s anti-tax protests, escalated into widespread unrest in major cities including Nairobi.
The protests, initially organized to commemorate the deadly anti-government crackdown in 2024, turned chaotic when clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces.
Witnesses reported clouds of tear gas, police barricades, and barbed wire sealing off key government buildings.
In the capital, thousands poured into the streets, some engaging in looting and vandalism.
According to the KNCHR, a total of 531 people sustained injuries during the protests, and at least 179 individuals were arrested.
The agency, which is a state-affiliated human rights body, condemned the violence and called for full accountability from all parties involved.
The latest figures marked an increase from an earlier report, which had placed the death toll at 16.
Human Rights Watch also weighed in on the unrest, urging the Kenyan government to respect the rights of peaceful protesters.
Otsieno Namwaya, associate Africa director of the organization, emphasized that “Kenyan authorities should not treat protesters as criminals.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for calm, restraint, and the protection of civil liberties in the wake of the disturbances.
One of the most significant incidents of vandalism occurred in Meru, about 200 kilometers east of Nairobi, where looters raided a national fertilizer depot.
The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the theft of over 7,354 bags of fertilizer worth approximately $230,000. Officials warned that this theft could endanger national food security, especially during the critical planting season.
Agriculture Minister Mutahi Kagwe described the looting as a “direct assault on Kenya’s food systems” and demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Kenya’s agricultural sector contributes roughly 21% to the nation’s GDP, making the implications of this incident especially severe.
Calls for accountability, justice, and long-term policy reform continue to mount both locally and internationally.
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