At least 16 killed, 400 injured in Kenya protests: Amnesty International

By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The violent protests across Kenya have led to at least 16 fatalities and 400 injuries, Amnesty International Kenya said Thursday.

Amnesty International received reports alleging that some police officers were advising families of victims to forgo postmortem examinations and proceed directly with burials, it said in a statement.

The human rights watchdog urged victims and their families to document medical evidence, insist on an independent postmortem, and avoid burial without clear answers.

Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the dramatic anti-Finance Bill demonstrations held on June 25, 2024, that led to the storming of parliament, police gunfire, and over 60 deaths.

President William Ruto’s administration faced intense scrutiny for how it handled the 2024 protests, which also caused widespread property damage.

The government later acknowledged fatalities and disappearances linked to the unrest. Ruto dissolved nearly his entire Cabinet in July, retaining only Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and pledging to form a "broad-based government."

Sparked by public anger over rising living costs and Ruto’s tax policies, demonstrations in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa were among the most intense.

Initially focused on economic demands, the protests escalated into demands for Ruto’s resignation.