Kenya Nationwide Protests Kill 31 Amid Police Crackdown

Kenya has experienced a deadly surge in anti-government protests, with at least 31 people killed amid nationwide unrest fueled by police brutality, economic hardship, and political grievances against President William Ruto's administration. The protests coincided with the 35th anniversary of the Saba Saba pro-democracy movement and were further intensified by public outrage over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody. Security forces, including police and alleged armed gangs, used live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons to suppress demonstrators, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, including unarmed civilians such as a 12-year-old girl shot by stray bullets. Despite a court order for police officers to be identifiable, human rights groups reported masked individuals in unmarked vehicles participating in crackdowns, raising serious concerns about accountability. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other organizations have called for independent, transparent investigations into the killings and excessive use of force, emphasizing that lethal force should only be used when strictly necessary to protect life. Families of victims demand justice, compensation, and government responsibility for hospital and burial costs, while activists vow to continue protests until their demands for police accountability and reforms are met.