At least eight people have been confirmed dead from the June 25 protests, which spread across the country in commemoration of the dozens killed during last year's anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
The first reported fatality this year was a protester who was shot in Matuu, Machakos County, when police opened fire on a group attempting to breach a police station.
While confirming the incident, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) stated that eight others were injured during the protests.
In Nairobi, Kenya Power confirmed that a guard attached to its Stima Plaza headquarters was also shot while on duty at around 4:30 p.m. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
In the statement, the power company announced that it had already initiated efforts with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Images of the shot guard quickly circulated on social media, sparking widespread outrage, as he was not a protester and had been attending to his assigned duties.
At least two more deaths were reported in Nairobi by the Mukuru Community Justice Centre, which claimed that a young man and a child were shot by police officers from Villa Police Station as they dispersed protesters in Mukuru Kwa Njenga.
Another fatality was reported in Pipeline, Embakasi, with videos circulating on social media showing a man who had been shot, lying lifeless on the road. Witnesses claimed he was dead. While the man’s exact fate remains unconfirmed, he may have been among the eight confirmed fatalities.
In a tragic incident, a high school student who had joined the protests in Nakuru County was also shot dead as police attempted to disperse the crowd by opening fire.
Four other protesters were injured in the chaos, and two in critical condition were rushed to the hospital.
On Thika Road, a Kenyan was shot at Roasters inside Mountain Mall, prompting a looting spree at the Naivas Supermarket located within the mall.
Pictures of another protester shot in Juja also circulated on social media, showing moments before he was shot in the head and left bleeding on the ground.
Confirming the incidents, the KHRC stated that 20 people were shot during the protests, resulting in eight fatalities, while at least 400 others received treatment for non-gunshot-related injuries.
Other reports indicate that the number of fatalities might have risen to 11, with President William Ruto's senior economic advisor, Moses Kuria, jumping on the bandwagon and claiming that four were killed in Nyeri County. Others allege that 2 fatalities were reported in Matuu, two in Emali, and one each in Embakasi, Juja, Kikuyu, Molo, Olkalou and Ngara.
