22 casualties recorded in Tuesday protests- KNCHR

Injuries range from gunshot wounds, head cuts, whip lashes and blunt trauma

by Allan Kisia

News17 June 2025 - 21:07

In Summary

In a statement signed by Vice Chairperson of the KNCHR Raymond Nyeris, the commission condemned the arrest of protesters including four Human Rights Defenders in Mombasa.
The agency commended the majority of the protesters for being peaceful despite attacks and provocation by the police and suspected hired goons.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has recorded 22 casualties during protests in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties on Tuesday

KNCHR said the casualties including the shooting, by police, of a peaceful civilian who was shot at close range in Nairobi CBD and is in critical condition at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

“The other injuries range from gunshot wounds, head cuts, whiplashes, blunt trauma, and asthma attacks after inhaling teargas,” the commission said.

The protests, organised by civil society groups and human rights activists, were meant to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.

In a statement signed by Vice Chairperson Raymond Nyeris, the commission condemned the arrest of protesters including four Human Rights Defenders in Mombasa despite being peaceful and having duly notified the police in line with the law.

The commission called for the immediate and unconditional release of the protestors.

It commended the majority of the protesters for being peaceful despite attacks and provocation by the police and suspected hired goons.

“A key highlight in today's protests in Nairobi was the massive deployment of masked hired goons in motorbikes who patrolled the streets as they brutalised the protestors and innocent wananchi with tyre whips, wooden bars and other crude weapons,” it said.

The commission added that it witnessed hordes of thugs viciously attack and rob protestors and other civilians in the streets of Nairobi.

“This is an unacceptable conduct by the police who are required to discharge their duties professionally and provide security for all persons in Kenya without favour or bias,” the statement read.

KNCHR noted that most of the police officers concealed their vehicle registration numbers and faces with masks and hoods in contravention of a High Court ruling last year that requires all police officers assigned to handle protests to be in official uniform and remain identifiable at all times.

“When those charged with maintaining law and order break the law with such impunity, they encourage citizens to disobey the law.”