Latest news with #Kangemi
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Eleven killed in Kenya as protesters clash with police
Eleven people have been killed in Kenya after clashing with police at the latest anti-government protests, the East African nation's police said. A further 29 people were injured, the state-funded Kenya National Commission said. Some Kenyans have for weeks been protesting police brutality, poor governance and the high cost of living, while demanding President William Ruto's resignation. Authorities today blocked major roads leading to the capital, Nairobi, in the strictest measures yet to contain the unrest, which saw protesters light bonfires and throw stones at police. Dozens of officers were injured, Kenyan police said. Officers fired and hurled tear gas canisters, injuring demonstrators. One young man being carried away, with his shirt drenched in blood, said he had been shot. A reporter for Reuters news agency said they saw one man lying motionless on the road with a bleeding wound after police fired at advancing protesters in the Nairobi suburb of Kangemi. As well as blocking vehicles from accessing Nairobi's city centre, police also stopped most pedestrians unless they were deemed to have essential duties. Protests were recorded across 17 of Kenya's 47 counties, the Kenya National Commission said. In Kenya, 7 July is known as Saba Saba, which is Swahili for Seven Seven. It's a significant date in 's history and marks the anniversary of the first major protests 35 years ago. Those demonstrations called on then-President Daniel arap Moi - Mr Ruto's mentor - for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. This change was realised in the 1992 elections. A professor of history and international relations at United States International University Africa in Nairobi said there is "no reversing the Gen Z Saba Saba-like spirit". Macharia Munene said: "Attempt to criminalise protests is reactive and will not work. "It instead makes the government appear retrogressive and desperate enough to subvert the constitution." Kenya's interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and police would be deployed to ensure public safety. Last month, he told police to "shoot on sight" anyone who approaches police stations during protests, after several were burned. Kenya's latest wave of demonstrations was sparked by calls for police accountability after the death of a blogger in police custody last month. A police officer then shot a civilian at close range during a protest on 17 June, further angering the public. On 25 June, during demonstrations against police brutality that were held to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests. The 2024 protests culminated in parliament being stormed and more than 60 people being killed.
Sky News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Ten killed in Kenya as protesters clash with police
Ten people have been killed in Kenya after clashing with police at the latest anti-government protests, a state-funded human rights commission has said. A further 29 people were injured, the Kenya National Commission added. Some Kenyans have for weeks been protesting police brutality, poor governance and the high cost of living, while demanding President William Ruto's resignation. Authorities today blocked major roads leading to the capital, Nairobi, in the strictest measures yet to contain the unrest, which saw protesters light bonfires and throw stones at police. Officers fired and hurled tear gas canisters, injuring demonstrators. One young man being carried away, with his shirt drenched in blood, said he had been shot. A reporter for Reuters news agency said they saw one man lying motionless on the road with a bleeding wound after police fired at advancing protesters in the Nairobi suburb of Kangemi. As well as blocking vehicles from accessing Nairobi's city centre, police also stopped most pedestrians unless they were deemed to have essential duties. Protests were recorded across 17 of Kenya's 47 counties, the Kenya National Commission said. In Kenya, 7 July is known as Saba Saba, which is Swahili for Seven Seven. It's a significant date in Kenya 's history and marks the anniversary of the first major protests 35 years ago. Those demonstrations called on then-President Daniel arap Moi - Mr Ruto's mentor - for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. This change was realised in the 1992 elections. A professor of history and international relations at United States International University Africa in Nairobi said there is "no reversing the Gen Z Saba Saba-like spirit". Macharia Munene said: "Attempt to criminalise protests is reactive and will not work. "It instead makes the government appear retrogressive and desperate enough to subvert the constitution." Kenya's interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and police would be deployed to ensure public safety. Last month, he told police to "shoot on sight" anyone who approaches police stations during protests, after several were burned. Kenya's latest wave of demonstrations was sparked by calls for police accountability after the death of a blogger in police custody last month. A police officer then shot a civilian at close range during a protest on 17 June, further angering the public. On 25 June, at least 19 people were killed during demonstrations against police brutality that were held to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Two die for Kenya as protesters close down central Nairobi
Two pipo don die of gunshot wounds afta police open fire during protests for Kenya, di latest in di wave of anti-government rallies wey start last year. Dr Aron Sikuku, one medic for Eagle Nursing Home for Kangemi on di outskirts of Nairobi, tell di BBC say dem don carry di two bodies to di facility and e die from gunshot wounds. E tok say hundreds of protesters don gada outside di hospital as dem dey demand to take away di bodies. As of now, no official confirmation of di deaths. Di demonstrations mark di 35th anniversary of di historic Saba Saba (7 July 1990) protests wey launch Kenya push for multiparty democracy. From early morning, security forces don block all major roads into central Nairobi ahead of di protests. No body dey di city centre, as businesses shut down and heavy police presence dey on di streets. Fights bin break out in oda places for Nairobi, as demonstrators light fires and attempt to attack police officers. Officers respond wit tear gas and water cannon. Di police fire tear gas to scata pipo on Thika Road, as well as in Kitengela, one town on di outskirts of di capital. For Kamukunji, near di venue wia di original Saba Saba protests hold, police battle groups of protesters wey light fires on di streets. Di rest of di kontri dey quiet, although dem report some clashes. Earlier, hundreds of early-morning commuters and overnight travellers dey stranded at checkpoints, some more dan 10km (six miles) from di city centre, na only few vehicles dem allow make e pass. Within di city, roads wey dey lead to key goment sites - including di president official residence, State House, and di Kenyan parliament - dem barricade am wit razor wire. Some schools advise students make dem stay at home. By mid-morning on Monday, hundreds of overnight passengers remain stranded outside di city centre, as major roads still dey closed. Dem park some long-distance buses in Kabete, about 13km from di city centre, wit many passengers wey no fit afford to pay extra money for motorcycle rides to dia destinations as dem remain dia. Humphrey Gumbishi, one bus driver, tok say im start im journey on Sunday evening dem im discover say police don block road in di morning. "We begin travel around 8:30pm last night... We want di goment make dem tok to di Gen Zs so all dis fit come to an end," e tell di BBC Inside one statement wey police issue on Sunday evening, di police tok say dia constitutional duty na to protect lives and property while maintaining public order. Monday demonstrations wey Gen-Z young pipo organize, dey demand for good governance, greater accountability, and justice for victims of police brutality, continuing di wave of anti-government protests since last year. On 25 June, at least 19 pipo die and dem loot thousands of businesses and destroy houses for one nationwide protests wey hold in honour of pipo wey die in last year anti-tax protests. Recent demonstrations don turn violent, wit reports of infiltration by "goons", wey dem dey accuse of looting and attacking protesters. Civil society groups don allege say di fight betwin dis groups and di police - accusations say di police don strongly denied. On Sunday, one armed gang attack di headquarters of one human rights NGO in Nairobi. Di Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) don dey host press conference organise by women wey dey call for an end to state violence ahead of Monday protests. Di KHRC tok-tok pesin, Ernest Cornel, tok say di gang make up for at least 25 pipo wey dey shout ontop motorbikes: "Protest no go dey today". "Dem carry stones, dem carry clubs… laptops, phone and oda valuable wey dem steal from protesters and journalists wey dey dia" e tell di BBC Newsday programme. Di original Saba Saba protests na key moment wey start multiparty system in Kenya democracy afta years of one-party rule. Di response by di then goment under President Daniel arap Moi dey brutal. Dem arrest many protesters, while at least 20 pipo die. Since den, Saba Saba don symbolise as civic resistance and di fight for democratic freedom for Kenya.
