Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has stated that 42 Kenyans died during the anti-government protests that occurred from June to August, countering reports from various human rights organizations which claim the death toll is 61.
During an appearance before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee on Thursday, Kindiki provided details of 30 fatalities related to the protests and the circumstances surrounding these deaths.
He requested an additional 24 hours to present information regarding the remaining 12 cases, assuring the Committee that the government has nothing to conceal. “What I’m pleading is to be given 24 hours to provide the other 12 in supplementary information as I’ve said the government has nothing to hide.
We cannot hide the fact that a Kenyan has died. What we need to do is to find the circumstances in which they died and if there’s a culpability even by a security officer, we ensure that justice is served,” he stated.
Kindiki defended police actions during the protests, asserting that there is no evidence of police brutality. He emphasized that the government does not endorse abductions and denied that law enforcement is responsible for the 132 Kenyans currently reported missing.
“Myself, including the President, have made it clear that this administration does not condone abductions or extra-judicial killings or enforced disappearances. It is unfair to attribute a policy on extra-judicial killings unless we’re provided with evidence of policy pronouncements that support this unlawful behaviour,” he said.
He further remarked, “If police never used lethal force during the invasion of Parliament, we would never have a Kenya like we have today,” adding that the mere fact that a Kenyan was shot near police during the protests does not necessarily indicate police involvement.
Kindiki’s figures stand in stark contrast to findings from organizations like Amnesty International, which criticized police conduct during the protests as chaotic and uncoordinated. Amnesty’s recent report states, “The level of violence and disregard for human rights during the protest is unacceptable.
The authorities had ample time to prepare for a peaceful protest, but instead, the response was characterized by excessive use of force.”
