Interior and National Administration CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said that the Government was not in the business of hiding numbers, insisting that his Tuesday statement on the fatalities from recent protests was based on verified police figures.
Just a day after the ministry reported 42 deaths in the June 25th and July 7th demonstrations, human rights organisation have placed the numbers at 61.
The CS noted that the Government is ready to harmonise with those with contrary numbers.
“Our findings are from the National Police Service records after they conducted physical analysis. If KNCHR, a national entity, reports 61, we don’t dispute it, but we get our findings from law enforcement officers,” said the CS.
The NPS placed the June 25th deaths at 17 and Saba Saba at 25.
“Also, bear in mind that there could have been some whose reported deaths are higher or less but resulted not necessarily from the protests yet listed.”
The CS stressed that the government takes the right to life seriously and therefore any life lost is regrettable.
“Like the case of the little girl who died , it’s very painful that she lost her life. Nobody has the intention to hide numbers. We are ready to tally the numbers for accountability.”
“There is no gain in hiding the numbers, but we want proper investigations done.”
