UN Demands Independent Probe Into Police Killings as Kenya’s Protest Death Toll Rises
NAIROBI — The United Nations Human Rights Office has urged Kenyan authorities to launch a full and independent investigation into the deadly use of force by police during nationwide protests on Monday. The demonstrations, part of the Saba Saba commemorations, ended with confirmed deaths, mass arrests, and mounting allegations of abuse by security forces.
At least eleven people were killed, and 567 arrested across multiple towns, according to a statement from the National Police Service (NPS). Dozens more were injured, including fifty-two police officers. Damage to property included 19 vehicles twelve police, three government, and four private along with incidents of looting reported in Nairobi, Eldoret, and other towns.
The UN condemned the use of live ammunition on unarmed civilians. “Those responsible for the killings must be held to account. Our Office stands ready to support the authorities in addressing these challenges, including investigations,” the UN said in a statement released Tuesday in Geneva.
Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji was among those detained. His arrest came amid what human rights advocates describe as a growing crackdown on dissent, led by youth-led protests demanding government accountability.
Police said they faced “acts of lawlessness,” including attacks on officers and destruction of public property. “Certain individuals were determined to engage in criminal acts,” said Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
However, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) disputed that narrative. It documented multiple cases of officers firing at civilians, including in Kitengela, Ongata Rongai, Kangemi, Embu, and Ol Kalou. Victims were allegedly targeted by plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles despite a standing High Court order banning such deployments.
KNCHR stated, “The presence of hooded, unidentified individuals operating in civilian clothing directly violates court orders. It is unacceptable and unlawful.”
The commission also reported that armed gangs some wielding clubs, machetes, and bows were spotted attacking protesters in several towns. Witnesses alleged some of these groups operated alongside police.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen came under fire after a video emerged showing him addressing officers and allegedly ordering them to shoot anyone approaching police stations. “This is an order from above,” Murkomen said in the clip, now widely circulated online. A High Court petition seeking his dismissal has already been filed, citing incitement and violation of public trust.
Human rights groups estimate the death toll from recent protests now stands at 39 in the past three weeks. In 2024, over 60 people died during similar protests that led to the withdrawal of a controversial Finance Bill.
Reports of enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detentions have intensified. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) said its Nairobi office was attacked on Sunday. Staff were assaulted, and journalists were robbed. The attackers are believed to be hired goons.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga canceled a planned rally at Kamukunji Grounds to mark the Saba Saba anniversary, citing heavy police deployment and blocked access roads. Addressing the media at Serena Hotel, Odinga condemned the government’s tactics. “What was meant to be a peaceful day of national reflection turned into a day of fear. This government is using force to silence its own citizens,” he said.
Odinga proposed the creation of a national dialogue platform, which he called an Inter-Generational National Conclave. The forum would include youth, civil society, professionals, religious leaders, and political stakeholders to address systemic issues like unemployment, corruption, and state violence.
“The people are hungry, the youth are angry, and the leadership is absent. We must act now,” Odinga said.
KNCHR backed the call for reform and urged the state to honor constitutional rights. “No amount of force can suppress a generation’s demand for dignity and justice,” the Commission said in a statement.
The UN echoed this message, warning that continued suppression risks escalating unrest. It welcomed a commitment by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to investigate the incidents and stressed the need for “prompt, impartial, and transparent accountability.”
As pressure builds on the Ruto administration, international observers continue to monitor the situation, calling for calm, dialogue, and the protection of civil liberties.
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