11 Killed, 29 Injured in Kenya Protests Marking 1990 Pro-Democracy Uprising Anniversary

At least 11 people lost their lives and 29 were injured during Monday’s intense Saba Saba protests in Kenya, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) revealed.

The demonstrations, fueled by soaring living costs and accusations of police brutality, marked the country’s most violent unrest in years.

The KNCHR confirmed 37 arrests, two abductions, and incidents of looting across six of the 17 affected counties. In Kirinyaga County, suspected rioters set fire to the Kerugoya Central Constituency Development Fund offices, with vandalism reported in several other locations.

Four fatalities were reported in Nairobi’s Kangemi district and Kitengela, Kajiado County, where paramedics struggled to reach victims due to barricades of burning debris blocking roads, according to local broadcasters KTN and Citizen TV.

The protests commemorated the 35th anniversary of the historic 7 July 1990 pro-democracy uprising, drawing thousands—mostly young Kenyans—calling for President William Ruto’s resignation, major economic reforms, and accountability for police misconduct. Public anger has intensified following the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody last month.

Eyewitnesses described continuous gunfire in Kangemi and the use of live ammunition and tear gas against protesters throwing stones in Kitengela. Clashes also erupted in Nairobi’s Kibra, Mathare, and Githurai neighborhoods, where roads were blocked and fires set. Human rights groups warn the death toll could climb as hospitals continue to treat many injured demonstrators.

While civil society leaders called for calm, the government defended its forceful response, accusing “criminal elements” of hijacking otherwise peaceful protests. Organizers remain determined to maintain pressure until their demands for affordable living and police reform are met.