What began as a national day of remembrance ended in tragedy. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has confirmed that 38 lives were lost during the July 7 Saba Saba Day protests, with at least 130 others injured in violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
In a somber update released on Friday, July 11, KNCHR laid out a grim picture of the aftermath: widespread injuries, allegations of excessive force, and a disturbing trend in the age of the victims most of them under 25.
“This is not just a number. These are young lives dreams cut short,” said Dr. Raymond Nyeris, the Commission’s Vice Chairperson. “The use of lethal force, especially on youth, is deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democratic society.”
The fatality breakdown paints a national crisis: Kiambu leads with eight deaths, followed by Nairobi and Kajiado with six each, Nakuru (4), Kirinyaga and Murang’a (3 each), Embu and Meru (2 each), and one death each in Laikipia, Nyandarua, and Nyamira counties.
Among the dead are four women and two children. Particularly heartbreaking is the case of a 12-year-old girl killed by a stray bullet while watching television in her home in Kiambu.
So far, 15 postmortems have been conducted. Fourteen of the victims died from gunshot wounds a pattern that raises serious concerns about the conduct of security officers during the demonstrations.
The KNCHR is now working alongside the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), and other civil rights groups to investigate these events and hold those responsible to account.
As Kenya grapples with the fallout, the Commission is calling for restraint, accountability, and a renewed commitment to protect the rights and lives of all citizens especially its youth.
