The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed that Monday’s demonstrations, held across 20 of Kenya’s 47 counties, resulted in at least 107 injuries and two forced disappearances. Clashes erupted in Nairobi, Eldoret, and other cities, where police reportedly used live ammunition, tear gas, and unmarked vehicles to suppress protesters.

The commission accused security forces of working with armed gangs wielding machetes and spears. Hospitals reported fatalities from gunshot wounds, while supermarkets and public property were vandalised amid the chaos.

The Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working Group said police actions violated court orders and relied on excessive force. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reportedly told officers to “shoot on sight” anyone who approached police stations, following recent arson attacks on law enforcement facilities.

UN and Civil Society Call for Accountability

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) expressed alarm at the rising death toll, calling on Kenyan authorities to avoid lethal force and uphold the right to peaceful protest. The Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission warned against inflaming ethnic tensions and demanded accountability from both state and non-state actors.

Monday’s protest was part of a broader wave of unrest that has swept the country since June 2024, originally triggered by tax hikes and deepening economic frustration. Since then, over 100 people have been killed in demonstrations across Kenya.

Protesters are now openly calling for President William Ruto’s resignation, citing corruption, inflation, and growing repression. Rights groups continue to demand urgent reforms to policing and democratic governance.