Omtatah visits injured protesters, condemns brutal police response

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Saturday paid a visit to several young protesters recovering from gunshot wounds at KNH, JUne 28, 2025. /OKIYA OMTATAH/X

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Saturday paid a visit to several young protesters recovering from gunshot wounds sustained during Wednesday’s deadly demonstrations.

In a statement issued after visiting Kenyatta National Hospital, Omtatah revealed that three youths who were shot while accompanying him at the protest are currently hospitalised, two of them in critical condition.

“At Nation Centre, one was shot three times. At Teleposta, as we sat in peace, brave souls rose and formed a human shield to protect me from live bullets. As a result, three of them got shot,” Omtatah said.

According to the senator, one young man was hit by seven bullets, while another — a law student — sustained six gunshot wounds and is fighting for his life.

A third protester was shot twice and underwent surgery shortly after Omtatah’s visit.

“They stood firm where many would have run,” he said.

“The bullets that tore through them were meant to silence me, but they chose to stand between fear and hope.”

Omtatah claimed that at least 35 young people are currently admitted, wounded by live rounds, rubber bullets, and what he described as “brute force from those who should protect them.”

The Kenya National Commission on Human Righst (KNCHR) said in its preliminary report that at least 19 people died in the chaos, 531 were injured while 15 were forcefully disappeared.

The commission further said it documented 179 arrests, two cases of individual rape, two cases of gang rape and one attempted gang rape.

It added that it will issue a more comprehensive statement at a later date.

In a statement shared on social media, Omtatah rebuked the government's handling of the protests.

“A government that fears its own youth more than it fears injustice has lost its way,” he said.

“Let those in power remember this truth: bullets can wound the body, but they will never kill the spirit of a people who have woken up.”

Wednesday’s demonstrations, held to mark the anniversary of the youth-led protests that began in 2024, started peacefully but quickly descended into violence.

Clashes between demonstrators and police erupted in several parts of Nairobi and other towns.

“Hold your heads high comrades. We are many. We are awake. And we will finish this struggle together. Bado mapambano!” Omtatah said.