Police kill 10 in violent anti-government protests in Kenya

Police in Kenya clashed violently with protesters on Monday during the latest wave of anti-government demonstrations, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Authorities imposed the strictest security measures yet to quell the unrest, blocking major roads leading into the capital, Nairobi, and forcing most businesses to close, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Police also restricted access to Nairobi’s city center, allowing only individuals with essential duties to enter, while roads to key government sites, including parliament and the president’s office, were barricaded with razor wire.

The protests, reported in 17 of Kenya’s 47 counties, erupted as young Kenyans and others expressed outrage over police brutality, poor governance, and the rising cost of living. Demonstrators called for President William Ruto’s resignation, accusing his administration of corruption.

Scenes from Nairobi’s outskirts town of Kitengela showed protesters lighting bonfires and throwing stones at police, who responded with tear gas and gunfire. Witnesses described young men carrying a bloodied man, reportedly shot by police.

The unrest was fueled by recent incidents, including the death of a blogger in police custody last month and the shooting of a civilian at close range by an officer during protests on June 17. Earlier demonstrations on June 25, marking the one-year anniversary of violent anti-tax protests, resulted in at least 19 deaths and more than 400 injuries.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen warned on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and authorised police to “shoot on sight” anyone approaching police stations after several were set on fire during earlier demonstrations.

By Khagan Isayev