Outrage continues to escalate in Kenya as nationwide protests turn deadly, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and over 400 injuries. Years of anger at corruption, joblessness, state extravagance and soaring living costs have led to explosive protests. This string of protests has reached an alarming boiling point, manifesting in violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement. The new wave of protests exploded following the death of Albert Ojwang. He was a teacher who reportedly died in police custody after calling out a top police officer on Facebook.
Innocent, a young protester in Nairobi, joined the protests to commemorate the loss of his friend during last year’s demonstrations. “The people voted. You’re here for the people. You’re working for the people … we just want you to listen to the people. That’s it,” Innocent stated during the march. His sentiments are the mantra of a larger call for justice and accountability that has spread throughout the country.
Unprecedented protests swept across the country in cities such as Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu. Thousands of citizens poured into the streets to express their outrage at Ojwang’s killing. In Kenya’s capital city Nairobi, tensions flared after the murder of Boniface Kariuki, a local vendor gunned down by authorities at point-blank range. Fires swept up and down the streets and the downtown commercial district. In all the rising madness, lawmakers flooded out of the Legislative Assembly buildings.
According to reports from Kenyatta National Hospital, they were overwhelmed with the receipt of 56 patients, mainly with wounds caused by rubber bullet shots. At least 83 people were deeply injured by this tragedy, and eight are still receiving care for gunshot wounds. Eyewitness reports illustrate a landscape of demolition as demonstrators set fire to the court premises in Kikuyu town located in Kiambu County.
Last year’s protests which resulted in the deaths and disappearances of 20 protestors, were fueled by plans to increase taxes. This unfortunate reality exemplifies what many Kenyans continue to face. Faith Odhiambo, an advocate for reform, remarked on the tragic cycle of violence: “We face an unfortunate paradox as a country where more lives are being lost as the people seek justice for the lives already lost.”
When the crisis began to worsen, the Communications Authority of Kenya stepped in. They required television and radio stations to cease broadcasting live images of the protests. This decision has been met with opposition from multiple industries and stakeholders, and public outcry for an open and transparent process has increased among the American public.
The Law Society of Kenya, along with the Police Reforms Working Group and the Kenya Medical Association, issued a joint statement urging dialogue to navigate the political impasse facing Kenya. They advocated for immediate meaningful dialogue focused on solutions and bridging the divide caused by increasing tensions in our society.
“We pray for our nation, dialogue and a way forward from the political impasse facing Kenya,” – Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Police Reforms Working Group, and the Kenya Medical Association.
Just as protests took to the streets after the killing of George Floyd, Kenyans are dealing with this same reality and standing up for justice and accountability. The clashes have become a tragic reflection of a society grappling with deep-seated issues, as citizens demand change in their governance.