Latest news with #IrunguHoughton
News24
15-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
Kenya's Ruto under fire for ‘shoot protesters' remark
Amnesty slammed President Ruto's call to shoot protesters as unlawful and dangerous. At least 38 people were killed and over 500 were injured during anti-government protests. Rights groups report police used live ammo, made unlawful arrests, and committed extrajudicial killings. Amnesty International on Tuesday slammed a call by the Kenyan president to shoot protesters, saying it would fuel more violence at a time of mounting anger and deadly anti-government rallies. At least 38 people died last week during demonstrations, rights groups say, marking the deadliest day of protests since the start of youth-led rallies against President William Ruto. The demonstrations have shaken the country and Ruto recently said protesters who engaged in violence 'should be shot in the leg'. Amnesty International's Kenya director Irungu Houghton said Ruto's comments were 'unlawful'. 'It is extremely dangerous for politicians to instruct police officers... on how to conduct policing during protests,' he said. Irungu said such orders 'would escalate the levels of violence' through 'greater conflict between police officers, protesters, bystanders, counter-protesters, and even criminals and bullies.' Rights groups have previously warned about the presence of armed men during protests and noted reports suggesting that some operate alongside police officers. Kenyan police have repeatedly denied the allegations. Luis Tato/AFP International criticism has also mounted, with the United Nations urging restraint. In a report released Tuesday by the Police Reforms Working Group - a coalition of grassroots and national rights groups, including Amnesty the report found the recent marches were 'marred by state violence, unlawful policing tactics.' The report said it had documented 'the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians, extrajudicial executions, disappearances, and unlawful arrests.' It said: The evidence points to serious allegations of unlawful conduct and extrajudicial killings by individuals suspected to be police officers. The National Police Service did not return AFP's request for comment. The report said over 500 civilians and police officers were wounded, and more than 500 people are facing prosecution, including terrorism charges. It said the protests were responsible for an 'economic loss possibly as much as 1.1 billion Kenyan Shillings ($14 million)' but did not elaborate. Interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday said police excesses during protests will be investigated, adding: 'There is no law that excuses a police officer to commit crimes or kill people'. Murkomen also said that he will be issuing a policy directive on the use of force and firearms by officers on Friday. There was widespread looting and vandalism during the protests, with many businesses forced to close and employees remaining home to avoid the violence.
Sky News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
More than a dozen people killed in Kenya during anti-government protests, human rights group says
Sixteen people have died and hundreds of others have been injured in nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya, a human rights charity has said. It comes a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill resulted in the storming of parliament. Most were killed by police, the head of Amnesty Kenya said. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Wednesday to commemorate last year's protests, in which more than 60 people died. Police used water cannons and fired tear gas to disperse demonstrations in Nairobi. Amnesty Kenya's executive director Irungu Houghton told Reuters that 16 people had been "verified as dead". "Most were killed by police," he added, saying at least five people had been shot dead. Mr Houghton said the number of deaths had been verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). In a statement posted on X, the government-funded KNCHR earlier said eight deaths had been reported from across Kenya, all "allegedly from gunshot wounds". "Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists," it said. The watchdog noted heavy police deployment and "allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting in numerous injuries". Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the statements. An official at the capital's main Kenyatta National Hospital said it had admitted 107 injured people, "most with gunshot wounds" from either rubber bullets or live rounds. Large crowds were seen heading in the direction of the president's official residence in Nairobi, which had been barricaded with razor wire. The scenes were broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another were pulled off air after defying an order to stop showing the demonstrations live. Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa by NTV, with protests also taking place in towns including Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority, a state-funded body, said in a statement that at least 61 people were arrested during the protests. Protests in June 2024 saw demonstrators shot dead and fires started inside the Kenyan parliament after politicians voted in favour of a controversial tax bill. Protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew the bill, but public anger has remained over police brutality and the rising cost of living.
Al Jazeera
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
The Take: Will police brutality end in Kenya as protests reignite?
A year after a deadly crackdown, Kenya's streets are alive with protests again, this time after a blogger died in police custody and officers shot a demonstrator at close range. As outrage grows, so do calls for accountability. Why does police brutality persist in Kenya, and how do officers continue to evade justice? In this episode: Irungu Houghton (@irunguhoughton) – Executive Director, Amnesty International Kenya Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K Li, Sonia Bhagat, Amy Walters, Marcos Bartolomé, and Haleema Shah, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, Remas AlHawari, Marya Khan, and our host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang and Sarí el-Khalili. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
ARN News Center
27-06-2025
- Politics
- ARN News Center
16 deaths in Kenya protests, most killed by police, Amnesty Kenya says
Sixteen people died during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday, most of them killed by police, the head of Amnesty Kenya said, a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill culminated in the storming of parliament. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year's demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died, with police firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. Some protesters clashed with police, and 16 people were "verified dead as of 8:30", Amnesty Kenya's executive director Irungu Houghton told Reuters, adding that the figures were verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). "Most were killed by police," Houghton said, adding that at least five of the victims had been shot dead. The government-funded KNCHR earlier said eight deaths had been reported across the country, all "allegedly from gunshot wounds". "Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists," KNCHR said in a statement shared on its official X account. The watchdog noted heavy police deployment and "allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting in numerous injuries". Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the statements by Amnesty Kenya or KNCHR. State-funded body Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said in a statement at least 61 people were arrested during the protests. An official at the capital's main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people. A total of "107 admitted, most with gunshot injuries," the source said, referring to rubber bullets and live rounds. He added that no deaths had been reported at KNH. National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi. Large crowds were seen earlier heading in the direction of State House, the president's official residence, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another broadcaster KTN were pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations. Both channels resumed broadcasts later on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi suspended the order issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya. ANGER AGAINST POLICE Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. Although last year's protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with fresh demonstrations this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. Ojwang's death has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning those who perished at last year's demonstrations, blamed on security forces, against a backdrop of dozens of unexplained disappearances. "We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25... we want justice," Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi. The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies.
Dubai Eye
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
16 deaths in Kenya protests, most killed by police, Amnesty Kenya says
Sixteen people died during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday, most of them killed by police, the head of Amnesty Kenya said, a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill culminated in the storming of parliament. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year's demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died, with police firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. Some protesters clashed with police, and 16 people were "verified dead as of 8:30", Amnesty Kenya's executive director Irungu Houghton told Reuters, adding that the figures were verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). "Most were killed by police," Houghton said, adding that at least five of the victims had been shot dead. The government-funded KNCHR earlier said eight deaths had been reported across the country, all "allegedly from gunshot wounds". "Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists," KNCHR said in a statement shared on its official X account. The watchdog noted heavy police deployment and "allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting in numerous injuries". Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the statements by Amnesty Kenya or KNCHR. State-funded body Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said in a statement at least 61 people were arrested during the protests. An official at the capital's main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people. A total of "107 admitted, most with gunshot injuries," the source said, referring to rubber bullets and live rounds. He added that no deaths had been reported at KNH. National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi. Large crowds were seen earlier heading in the direction of State House, the president's official residence, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another broadcaster KTN were pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations. Both channels resumed broadcasts later on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi suspended the order issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya. ANGER AGAINST POLICE Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. Although last year's protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with fresh demonstrations this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. Ojwang's death has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning those who perished at last year's demonstrations, blamed on security forces, against a backdrop of dozens of unexplained disappearances. "We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25... we want justice," Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi. The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies.
