NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed that at least 11 people were killed and 567 others arrested during Monday’s Saba Saba protests across Kenya, which saw violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement.
In a statement released late Monday, NPS said the protests — held to mark the 35th anniversary of Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy — were infiltrated by “criminal elements” who engaged in looting, vandalism, and attacks on police officers.
“Regrettably, preliminary reports indicate fatalities, injuries, damage to motor vehicles, and several incidents of looting,” said Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
Key figures from the police report:
- Fatalities: 11
- Injured civilians: 11
- Injured police officers: 52
- Police vehicles damaged: 12
- Government vehicles damaged: 3
- Civilian vehicles damaged: 4
- Total arrests made: 567
Among those arrested was Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji, who police say will face charges related to incitement.
The demonstrations, spearheaded mostly by Gen Z protesters across major towns, were met with tight police deployment, including early-morning roadblocks, aerial surveillance, and widespread tear gas use.
Despite police orders banning public assemblies in certain zones, protesters in towns like Kitengela, Kangemi, Olkalou, and Kiambu took to the streets in defiance.
The NPS praised its officers for showing “exceptional restraint and professionalism in the face of provocation,” even as footage circulated online showed officers firing live rounds and dispersing crowds forcefully.
The service reiterated its commitment to investigating all reported incidents, including fatalities, injuries, and property damage.
“We urge any member of the public with information about criminal suspects still at large to report to the nearest police station,” Nyaga added.
Saba Saba commemorates July 7, 1990, when opposition leaders and citizens staged a major protest demanding the end of Kenya’s one-party rule under the late President Daniel Moi.
Monday’s unrest was a symbolic continuation of that struggle, with new calls against police brutality, economic injustice, and government accountability.
This year’s anniversary, however, has been marred by deadly confrontations and allegations of rights abuses — with human rights groups accusing police of excessive force, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reporting at least 10 deaths earlier in the day.
