NAIROBI, Kenya — A total of 567 individuals were arrested on Monday, July 7, following widespread unrest during the Saba Saba Day protests across Kenya. The National Police Service (NPS), in a statement, confirmed that those arrested include Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji.
The NPS further reported that the demonstrations tragically resulted in 11 fatalities and left 52 police officers injured.
Significant property damage was also incurred, with police confirming that 12 police vehicles, three government vehicles, and four civilian vehicles were damaged during the skirmishes.
“Each reported incident will be subject to further investigation, in accordance with the law,” the NPS statement affirmed.
While acknowledging the conduct of law-abiding citizens, the NPS strongly condemned the criminal acts witnessed during the protests.
“The NPS commends the majority of Kenyans for being law-abiding and heeding the call to maintain law and order. However, certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts, including attacks on law enforcement officers and looting,” the statement continued.
The NPS also lauded its officers for demonstrating restraint and professionalism despite facing severe provocation.
“The NPS also commends its officers for demonstrating exceptional restraint and professionalism in the face of sustained violence and provocation by criminals who infiltrated the protests and encourage anyone with information about individuals involved in criminal activities who are still at large to come forward and share that information to report to the nearest police station or contact us via our toll-free numbers: 999, 911, 112, or #FichuakwaDCI (0800 722 203),” the statement concluded.
Earlier on Monday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) issued its own condemnation, describing what it observed as unlawful conduct by law enforcement officers. The KNCHR accused the police of flagrantly disregarding a High Court order mandating that officers managing protests must be in uniform and clearly identifiable.
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“The KNCHR has noted that the police have continued to flagrantly disregard a High Court order mandating that all officers managing demonstrations be in official uniform and remain identifiable at all times,” the commission stated. “The Commission observed numerous hooded officers, not in uniform, traveling in unmarked vehicles while patrolling Nairobi, Kajiado, and Nakuru counties.”
The KNCHR also raised serious alarm regarding the observed presence of armed criminal gangs operating alongside police in Eldoret and Nairobi cities.
“Additionally, the presence of criminal gangs wielding crude weapons, including whips, wooden clubs, machetes, spears, bows and arrows, was noted in Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and Eldoret. In Nairobi and Eldoret, these hooded gangs were seen operating alongside police officers,” the statement added.
