Interior CS Kindiki Reports 25 Lives Lost During Anti-Finance Bill Protests

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced that 25 people lost their lives during the recent nationwide anti-Finance Bill protests. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Kindiki stated that approximately 400 individuals were injured, including at least 43 police officers.

“This is the number we have, and we can account for each,” Kindiki emphasized. “I did present and briefed the Cabinet on what has transpired in our country during the last two weeks. Part of that outcome is that we have lost 25 people as of now—Kenyans who died in very unfortunate circumstances. Nearly 400 people were injured, including 43 police officers.”

Kindiki’s remarks came in response to various reports that placed the death toll higher, with some sources suggesting over 39 fatalities. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) recently reported that they had confirmed the deaths of 41 people, attributing most of these fatalities to police action during the protests. Additionally, KHRC noted that over 360 people were injured and 627 arrested during the demonstrations.

On July 1, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) also released figures, stating that 39 people had died and 361 were injured during the anti-Finance Bill protests.

Kindiki addressed these discrepancies, acknowledging that he had heard different figures but insisted on the accuracy of the official government numbers. “I have heard of other figures, but I also heard earlier on that there was a massacre in Githurai from other sources, which turned out not to be true. I don’t want to cast aspersions at anybody, but I want to tell the people of Kenya that we’ve lost 25 people,” he said.

The protests, which swept across the nation, were fueled by widespread discontent with the proposed Finance Bill. Demonstrators took to the streets, expressing their opposition to what they viewed as unfair financial policies. The government’s response, particularly the actions of the police, has been heavily scrutinized by human rights organizations and the public alike.

As the nation grapples with the aftermath of these protests, the discrepancies in the reported numbers of fatalities and injuries highlight the ongoing tensions and the need for transparent investigations. The official figures provided by the Interior CS, alongside those reported by human rights organizations, paint a grim picture of the recent turmoil and its impact on the Kenyan populace.