Recent protests in Kenya have taken a violent turn, leading to the deaths of at least five individuals and injuries to 31 others, as reported by various human rights organizations. Despite assurances from the government regarding the protection of the right to assembly, the demonstrations on Tuesday escalated into violence, with reports of human rights violations.
The joint statement issued by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya, and Police Reforms Working Group Kenya highlighted the concerning events. According to the statement, five individuals were fatally shot while providing medical assistance to the injured. Of the 31 injured individuals, 13 were hit by live bullets, four by rubber bullets, and three by launcher canisters.
Furthermore, the statement revealed that 21 people were either abducted or went missing within the past 24 hours, although some have been subsequently released. Additionally, there have been 52 reported arrests in connection with the protests.
The human rights groups called for an immediate de-escalation of the situation and urged all parties to refrain from using lethal force to safeguard lives. They specifically condemned the shooting of medical emergency centers and emphasized the critical need for safe passage for emergency services to attend to the wounded.
