Roseline Odede, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) chairperson insisted that the organisation recorded 24 deaths during the anti-Finance Bill protests.
Her statement released on Sunday was a direct response to President William Ruto casting doubt in the figures KNCHR reported since the protests began on June 18.
In a televised interview at State House, the Head of State noted that his authorities had informed him that the number of fatalities was estimated at 19.
During the interview, the Head of State further accused KNCHR of fabricating figures regarding police action in Githurai on the night of Tuesday. Ruto further maintained that only one person had been shot dismissing claims that a massacre was experienced in the populous estate along Thika Road.
In response, Odede explained that KNCHR was yet to issue any statement regarding Githurai citing insufficient information.
"As of our latest data, we documented 22 deaths by Wednesday, the date of our initial statement. Since then, the number has risen to 24," she explained.
"We have not issued any statement specifically on the Githurai massacre. During our recent press conference, we acknowledged insufficient information and are currently verifying events in Githurai, Rongai, Migori, Nakuru, and other areas across the country."
Today, a consortium of human rights activists and defenders also held a press briefing demanding the government to listen to the youth and not dictate the agenda.
The consortium, which consisted of Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya among others, further issued a raft of demands to the state ahead of the upcoming dialogue, which the Head of State agrees can take place on an X Space.
"As the national associations of professionals, we note the State House announcement of a multi-sectoral conversation to address policy issues raised by the youth of Kenya," Irungu Houghton, the Amnesty International Executive Director, stated.
"Gen Z has spoken on the urgent need for the state to address public theft and bloated cabinet, invest in essential services, act on those who fired on unarmed protesters, release those who were arrested and an end to extra-judicial killings among other demands."
"Many of their demands in our view do not require policy dialogue but decisive executive action. It is a decisive executive action, not a state-led national conversation that will restore this generation's faith in the Kenyan state," Houghton added.
In a roundtable interview with digital journalists, President William Ruto assured the youth that he would join their X Space on Thursday or Friday if invited.
