Kenya

Kenya: 11 Dead After Police Open Fire at Protestors

Published JUL 8 2025

Story

Above: Historic photo of Kenya protests from 2015. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

Eleven people were killed during the latest round of anti-government protests in Kenya, the country's police said on Monday, adding that 567 people were arrested.
Al Jazeera
Sky News
CNN
France 24
The protests marked Saba Saba — Swahili for "seven seven" — in memory of the July 7, 1990, demonstrations against the one-party rule of then-President Daniel arap Moi, the outcome of which was realized in elections two years later.
Sky News
France 24
Monday's protest was the latest in a wave of discontent against President William Ruto and his government after they tried to introduce a new finance bill last year, which critics said would raise the cost of living. More than 60 people were reported killed in a June 2024 demonstration that culminated with protesters storming the parliament building.
The Republic
Voice of America
Reuters
AA
Last month, at least 16 people were reported killed during a protest commemorating the one held a year earlier. The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said there were upwards of 400 casualties.
Reuters
RFI
Ahead of the latest action, police blocked vehicles from entering Nairobi's city center while only pedestrians were given access to the Kenyan capital if they were deemed to have essential duties. Roads to the parliament building were also barricaded.
ap
Sky News
Reuters
Police also used water cannons and tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters, some of whom threw stones and started fires, with reports adding that police opened fire with live rounds, leading to the casualties. Earlier, the country's interior minister said violent protests would not be tolerated.
ap
Sky News

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Pro-government narrative

What has unfolded on Kenya's streets recently is not a protest, but a well-planned and unconstitutional attempt at regime change. Demonstrators have used violence and thuggery in an attempt to change the government, but they will not be allowed to succeed. The government will always take strong measures in response to this kind of illegal behavior.

allAfrica

Government-critical narrative

Protesters have a list of legitimate grievances against the government, from corruption to increasing disappearances and extrajudicial killings. What the government doesn't realize is that ignoring their demands, while increasing the repression, will only galvanize the protest movement further.