Aasai

The Saba Saba demonstrations held on Monday turned deadly in several regions, leaving at least four civilians dead and many others seriously wounded following confrontations between demonstrators and the police. The protests, which were organized to voice discontent over economic hardships and governance concerns, were marked by widespread unrest in areas such as Kitengela in Kajiado County, Kangemi in Nairobi, and Tumaini in Nyandarua County. The situation escalated rapidly as law enforcement officers used live ammunition to disperse demonstrators, resulting in fatalities and severe injuries that have sparked national concern.

In Kitengela town, tragedy struck when a 21-year-old man was fatally shot during a chaotic face-off between protesters and police officers. Eyewitnesses reported that security personnel fired directly into the crowd, causing panic and injuries. Three other individuals sustained critical gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Kitengela Subcounty Hospital for urgent treatment. However, tensions flared further when enraged residents, angered by the shooting and slow medical response, stormed the hospital premises. Fearing for their lives, medical staff, including nurses, fled the facility as the mob threatened to torch the hospital in protest.

The Kenyan Red Cross intervened swiftly by evacuating the injured from Kitengela to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. The move came after it became evident that the local hospital was overwhelmed and unable to guarantee the safety of both the patients and the healthcare workers. The evacuation was carried out under high tension, with emergency responders navigating a volatile environment to save lives amid the growing unrest.

In Nairobi’s Kangemi area, a similar scene unfolded as clashes between demonstrators and security forces intensified. Two protesters reportedly succumbed to gunshot wounds at Eagle Hospital after being injured during confrontations with police officers. Medical personnel at the hospital confirmed that the victims were pronounced dead upon arrival due to the severity of their injuries. The shooting has reignited discussions about police brutality, excessive use of force, and the erosion of civil rights during public demonstrations.

Meanwhile, in the Tumaini area of Olkalou constituency, located in Nyandarua County, another fatality was recorded when a demonstrator was shot and killed by law enforcement officers. According to local reports, the deceased was part of a crowd that had gathered to express dissatisfaction with government policies. One other individual was severely injured in the same incident and had to be taken to hospital in critical condition. The deployment of force in Olkalou has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and opposition leaders.

Additionally, a police officer was seriously injured during one of the confrontations, underscoring the volatile and dangerous nature of the standoff. It remains unclear how the officer sustained his injuries, but reports indicate he may have been caught in the midst of projectiles thrown by protesters or injured while attempting to control the crowd.

These events have intensified calls for an independent investigation into the police response, with civil society and political leaders urging the government to uphold the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and avoid unnecessary loss of life.