The loss of life toll from Kenya’s anti-government protests on Monday (July 7, 2025) has surged to 31, marking the best single-day toll for the reason that demonstrations started earlier this 12 months, the state-funded human rights fee stated on Tuesday (July 8, 2025).
It stated one other 107 individuals have been injured and greater than 500 have been arrested amid widespread destruction of property, together with supermarkets. The arrest determine largely tracked with the one issued by police. The loss of life toll didn’t say whether or not any safety forces have been included.
For weeks, youth and different residents have taken to the streets to protest in opposition to police brutality and poor governance and to demand President William Ruto’s resignation over alleged corruption and the rising value of dwelling.
Mr. Ruto has not commented on Monday’s protest or its toll.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Tuesday urged that the grievances main to the protests are addressed. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated he “renews his call for calm and restraint, and full respect for the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.” Monday’s demonstrations, which have been met with police roadblocks stopping entry to downtown Nairobi, have been deliberate to coincide with the thirty fifth anniversary of the historic Saba Saba pro-democracy protests. Saba Saba is Swahili for Seven Seven.
July 7 holds deep significance in Kenya, marking the primary main pro-democracy protests in 1990 that known as on then-President Daniel arap Moi — Ruto’s political mentor — to transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. That demand was realized throughout the 1992 General Elections.
This 12 months’s wave of protests was sparked by a blogger’s loss of life in police custody final month. Police shot a civilian at shut vary throughout a protest on June 17. On June 25, hundreds of youths turned out throughout the nation.
A complete of fifty individuals have been killed within the protests over the past two weeks.
The Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a authorities physique whose commissioners are appointed by the President, on Tuesday urged politicians not to gasoline ethnic tensions and criticized police for utilizing extreme pressure in the direction of protesters.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen final week informed police to “shoot on sight” anybody who approaches police stations throughout protests after a number of have been burned.
The public anger has constructed on Mr. Ruto’s efforts to make Kenyans pay extra to assist repay large authorities debt. Last 12 months, hundreds of younger individuals protesting rising taxes stormed parliament, main Mr. Ruto to promise to lower authorities spending.
With some individuals making the most of the chaos, some companies have stated they’ve misplaced massive quantities of products.
“They invaded our shop, and by the way, we have lost so many things. We lost cash, phones, a lot of them,” mobile phone seller Nancy Gicharu said.
