At least 16 people were killed during anti-government protests across Kenya on Wednesday, with rights groups accusing police of using lethal force against demonstrators marking the anniversary of last year's deadly unrest.
Sixteen people died during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday, with most victims reportedly shot by police, according to Amnesty Kenya. The demonstrations, which drew thousands to the streets, marked one year since tax protests in 2024 that left over 60 dead and saw demonstrators storm parliament.
Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty Kenya, said the death toll was verified by the rights group along with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). “Most were killed by police,” he told Reuters, confirming that at least five victims had died from gunshot wounds.
KNCHR had earlier reported eight deaths linked to gunfire and said more than 400 people, including protesters, police officers and journalists, had been injured in the clashes. The group condemned what it described as “excessive use of force”, including rubber bullets and live ammunition.
Kenyan police have not commented on the allegations. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority confirmed at least 61 arrests nationwide.
Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi reported receiving 107 injured people, many with gunshot wounds. One Kenya Power security guard was also confirmed dead after being shot while patrolling company premises.
Tensions escalated when large crowds approached State House, the presidential residence. Broadcasters NTV and KTN were temporarily taken off air for covering the protests live, defying an order from the Communications Authority of Kenya. A Nairobi court later suspended the directive, allowing the channels to resume broadcasts.
Protests and sporadic violence were also reported in Mombasa, Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri.
Public anger has continued to simmer over the conduct of security forces. Earlier this month, outrage grew following the death in custody of Albert Ojwang, a blogger and teacher. Six individuals, including three police officers, have been charged with his murder.
Ojwang’s death has reignited calls for police accountability. “We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25... we want justice,” protester Lumumba Harmony told Reuters.
The anniversary comes a year after protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament on 25 June 2024 in response to a controversial tax bill. The events marked one of the gravest political challenges of President William Ruto’s administration and drew condemnation from international partners concerned over human rights violations.
Türkiye has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 senior officials, citing alleged crimes in Gaza, claims Israe...
Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, who co-discovered the DNA double-helix structure, has died at 97, his former research lab confirmed....
Major U.S. airports are cutting flights and facing delays as the government shutdown continues to affect air traffic control staffing, raising concern...
Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the 2026 Grammy nominations, while K-Pop enters the Song of the Year category for the first time in the award’s hi...
The United States has lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his planned visit to the White House next week. The move follows a...
The death toll from a massive landslide in western Kenya’s Elgeyo Marakwet County has climbed to 26 after rescuers recovered four more bodies on Sunday, before operations were halted due to sudden flash floods.
At least 21 people have been killed and more than 30 are missing after a landslide struck Kenya’s Elgeyo Marakwet East region in the Rift Valley following days of heavy rain, authorities said.
A light aircraft crash in Kenya on Wednesday (28 October) has claimed the lives of eight Hungarian and two German tourists, as well as a Kenyan pilot.
A light aircraft carrying foreign tourists from Hungary and Germany crashed in Kenya on Tuesday morning, killing all 11 people on board.
Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the 2026 Grammy nominations, while K-Pop enters the Song of the Year category for the first time in the award’s history.
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, as Lebanon and the United Nations warned of renewed border tensions.
U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from launching military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, despite growing concern over recent U.S. strikes in the southern Caribbean.
The driver who rammed his car into a crowd in western France on Wednesday is suspected of "self-radicalisation" and had "explicit religious references" at home, the country's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she had filed a legal complaint against a man who groped and tried to kiss her as she walked between meetings in Mexico City — a day after footage of the incident went viral online.
The Trump administration is seeking to make sharing data about pathogens a condition for countries receiving U.S. health aid, according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed a new commander for drone air defences on Friday, recognising the critical role these defences play in countering the threat of Russian drones.
A majority of judges on Brazil's Supreme Court panel voted on Friday to dismiss former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal against his 27-year prison sentence for allegedly plotting a coup to remain in power after the 2022 presidential election.
The United States has expressed full support for the European Union's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and bring an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
The European Commission has tightened Schengen visa rules for Russian citizens, limiting most new applicants to single-entry permits, citing security risks linked to the war in Ukraine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment