Kenya: Several killed in rally on deadly protest anniversary
Richard Connor with AFP, Reuters 2 hours ago
Security forces fortified Kenya's government buildings with razor wire ahead of a march marking one year since anti-Ruto protesters stormed the parliament. Reports suggest at least eight have died during the protests.
At least eight were killed on Wednesday as thousands took to the streets to mark one year since the deadly unrest which allegedly saw plainclothes police officers fire at anti-government protesters with Amnesty reporting the death toll at 16.
Kenyan officials have closed the parliament and the presidential office in Nairobi, with live broadcasting of any of the protests banned within Kenya to avoid societal collapse.
All deaths were believed to have been caused by gunshot wounds, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). At least 61 were arrested nationwide, KNCHR added.
Last June, at least 60 people died as security forces clashed with protesters angry over tax hikes and economic hardship.
Fresh demonstrations this month were sparked by the death of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Six individuals, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday in connection with Ojwang's death. All pleaded not guilty.
Ojwang's case has intensified scrutiny of police conduct, with many Kenyans still grieving the earlier deaths.
Police had initially claimed Ojwang died by suicide, but the narrative shifted after an autopsy indicated he was fatally assaulted. President Ruto later acknowledged that Ojwang "died at the hands of the police," calling the incident "heartbreaking and unacceptable."
Ruto's promise of Kenya's recovery has fallen flat for many, as corruption, inflation, and youth unemployment continue to plague the country.
While Ruto backed down on last year's controversial finance bill after weeks of unrest, critics say little has changed. Human rights groups report scores of abductions or disappearances of government critics, with dozens still unaccounted for since last year. Activists also accuse the government of reviving tactics reminiscent of Kenya's authoritarian era in the 1980s and 1990s. |
