Eleven protesters are reported to have been killed during Wednesday’s violent demonstrations across 27 counties in Kenya.
Citizen TV reported that aside from the 11 fatalities, 400 were injured while 61 arrests were made nationwide.
The official count from the Kenyan government puts the death toll lower at 8.
The victims died of mainly gunshot wounds as witnesses gave account of anti riot police opening fire on the demonstrators countrywide.
The protests were mainly by Gen Z youth who descended on the streets of the capital Nairobi Nairobi, and the towns of Nakuru and Nyeri to protest alleged government neglect of the plights of citizens including lack of jobs, burdensome taxes and the rising cost of living.
The latest demonstrations coincided with the one-year anniversary of the deadly series of protests in 2024 by Gen Z youth demanding the abolition of what they called punitive taxes and other alleged disincentives which made life unbearable.
Police allegedly armed with live ammunition and tear gas clashed with the protests in running battles in the Kenyan capital and in Nakuru where a Form Three student was reportedly shot dead.
There were simultaneous protests in Bugoma, Eldoret, Mombasa and Nakuru, directed against President William Ruto and his government.
Similar street protests were also held in Emali, Embakasi, Matuu, Ongata Rongai, Juja and Kikuyu.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has issued a statement saying it was investigating the student’s death with a view to identifying those responsible for it and similar deaths during the protests.
WN/as/APA