President William Ruto has confirmed that six people died, while 14 others suffered gunshot injuries during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, despite earlier allegations that more than 20 people had been killed.
Speaking to the press outside the Statehouse, he stated that 214 individuals had been hurt, with 95 already treated and released from various hospitals.
He stated that only one guy was in the ICU, and 14 remained in hospitals.
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Human rights organizations and other international entities have provided different estimates, with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) stating that 23 people were killed during the protests and 300 others injured.
The KHRC further observed that the majority of the murders took place on Tuesday night, when cops opened fire on demonstrators in Githurai.
“As of yesterday evening, the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG) recorded 23 deaths caused by police shootings nationwide. There were over 50 arrests, 22 abductions and over 300 injuries. Reports reaching us also indicate that police opened fire and killed several people in Githurai, Nairobi, last night,” KHRC stated on Wednesday.
According to an Amnesty International report released on Tuesday, 13 persons were shot with live bullets, four with rubber bullets, and three were injured after being hit with teargas canisters.
On Tuesday, more than 31 people were hurt, and five individuals were shot dead.
In his speech, the president also refuted recent reports of abductions, emphasizing that his administration remains dedicated to ensuring that there are no extra-judicial executions in the country.
He allayed worries about incommunicado arrests by stating that anybody arrested during protests was kept in police stations and that those who perished would be held accountable.
