June 26, 2025
Nairobi, Kenya — A day after nationwide demonstrations rocked Kenya, conflicting reports on casualties have raised alarm among human rights groups and watchdog agencies, deepening concerns over the government’s handling of protests and its commitment to constitutional freedoms.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 8 people were confirmed dead, with over 80 others seriously injured across the country during the June 25 protests. The Commission also noted that more than 400 individuals—including journalists, protesters, and police officers—were harmed in varying degrees, and approximately 60 people were arrested.
However, Amnesty International Kenya issued a parallel report contradicting the official government figures, asserting that the death toll had risen to 16, with at least five fatalities attributed directly to live ammunition fired by security forces. Amnesty further confirmed that over 400 people sustained injuries, and echoed the KNCHR’s figure of 60+ arrests nationwide.
“These numbers reflect a shocking disregard for the right to peaceful assembly,” said Irũngũ Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty Kenya. “The government has a constitutional obligation to protect, not punish, its citizens when they express dissent.”
Gruesome footage and eyewitness accounts circulated widely on social media, showing scenes of chaos, brutality, and bloodshed, particularly in Nairobi’s CBD, parts of Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. Victims included students, medics, and freelance journalists, some of whom were reportedly assaulted while attempting to document the events.
Independent medical groups who volunteered during the protests also confirmed receiving dozens of patients with gunshot wounds, fractures, and tear gas injuries. One volunteer medic described the situation as a “war zone.”
The growing casualty figures have prompted widespread condemnation from local and international observers. Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Human Rights Office have both issued statements urging the Kenyan government to launch independent investigations and hold accountable any officers found to have used excessive force.
“This level of violence during civic protests is unacceptable and erodes the democratic principles Kenya is built on,” said a spokesperson from the UNHRO Office in Nairobi.
President William Ruto’s administration has yet to officially comment on the diverging reports, but Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki promised a “comprehensive review” of law enforcement actions during the protests.
In the meantime, civil society groups have vowed to continue pressuring the state for justice and reforms. Plans for legal action and further demonstrations are already taking shape, as Kenya once again finds itself at a critical crossroads between state authority and civil liberties.
