The Number of Deaths Resulting from the Anti-government Demonstrations has Reached 17!!!

The number of deaths resulting from the anti-government demonstrations has reached 17, as four bodies were found in Nairobi. Most of the victims suffered from gunshot wounds. One of the deceased was identified as Raphael Shigali, the Nairobi open bantamweight champion. 

Witnesses reported that he was shot and killed on Wednesday morning during clashes between a group and the police on Jogoo Road.Patrick Macharia, a Member of the County Assembly for Maringo/Bahati, stated that he had been training with Shigali at Safaricom playground Hamza area just hours before. 

They noticed a commotion on Jogoo Road and went to investigate. When they returned, they found Shigali bleeding from a head wound. He was immediately taken to Metropolitan Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. 

He had been shot in the head.In Mukuru slums, a man named Bernard Kilonzi, 43, died after being struck in the chest by a teargas canister. His death triggered a protest in the area, with residents accusing the police of responsibility. 

It is believed that Kilonzi was coming from Mukuru health center when he was hit by teargas and died at the scene. His body showed physical injuries to the chest and a deep cut on the neck.In Nairobi's Majengo slums, locals brought a man's body to the local police post. 

The man had been stabbed by unidentified individuals during a riot in the area. At City Stadium, the body of another man with chest injuries was discovered.

 Police reported that this finding occurred hours after clashes between the police and some locals during the anti-government protests. Authorities are currently investigating the incident.Officials confirmed two additional deaths in Kisumu, where two individuals were shot by the police during the protests. 

One of the deceased, a 35-year-old, passed away on Thursday while undergoing treatment at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). He was one of six people rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

 The second casualty died at Nightingale Hospital in Kondele before being transferred to JOOTRH for preservation. Five other victims, who were also shot by the police in Kisumu, remain hospitalized after undergoing surgeries, while 14 injured individuals have been treated and discharged.

Regarding the locations of the fatalities, four were shot dead in Mlolongo, two in Kitengela, one along Juja Road in Nairobi, two in Sondu, one in Migori, and one in Emali, Makueni. The protests were organized to protest the high cost of living and the recently implemented Finance Act of 2023.

The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) initiated an investigation into allegations that the police used live ammunition during the anti-government demonstrations. IPOA Chair Ann Makori confirmed the dispatch of Rapid Response Teams to investigate the claims. 

Makori emphasized that law enforcement officers are only justified in using lethal force when their lives are genuinely threatened. The authority will examine the circumstances surrounding the use of firearms and determine whether the lives of the police officers were at risk.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that at least 12 people lost their lives during the protests. Mlolongo accounted for four deaths, while Kitengela, Emali, Sondu, and Migori each reported one death. 

KNCHR expressed concern about the loss of life, emphasizing that even a single casualty represents the loss of a family member, friend, or colleague. Human rights organizations, including KHRC, Haki Africa, and MUHURI, accused the police of employing excessive force during the demonstrations, resulting in numerous injured protesters.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that 312 individuals, including a Member of Parliament, who were directly or indirectly involved in planning, orchestrating, or financing the protests and acts of lawlessness, have been arrested. They will face various criminal charges. 

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau was scheduled to return to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi on Friday, July 14, to respond to allegations that he organized the protests in Mlolongo. 

Makau has denied any involvement in the demonstrations, which led to damage to a section of the Expressway and disrupted traffic flow. Some leaders have criticized the police actions as an abuse of power.