Kenyan police opened fire on protesters in Nairobi on Monday as nationwide demonstrations marked the 35th anniversary of the country’s pro-democracy Saba Saba rallies. A Reuters reporter witnessed a man lying motionless with a bloody wound shortly after police opened fire on the crowd in the capital.
The protests come amid mounting public anger following the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody last month. His death has galvanized youth-led movements demanding justice, transparency, and accountability from the government.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga did not immediately comment on the incident.
Crowds gathered early Monday in Kangemi, a suburb of Nairobi, where police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators marching with whistles and placards. Later clashes saw police opening fire on protesters who refused to retreat.
Elsewhere, protests erupted in the towns of Nyeri, Embu, and Nakuru, where mounted police confronted stone-throwing demonstrators. Authorities had preemptively sealed off central Nairobi, closing major roads and restricting vehicle movement. Many schools and businesses shut down in anticipation of unrest.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, who last month described the protests as “terrorism disguised as dissent,” said on X that security forces were on “high alert” to prevent chaos. “We are committed to protecting life and property,” he said.
On Sunday, an armed group stormed the offices of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, halting a planned press conference by women’s rights activists. At least one board member was injured, according to the NGO.
The Saba Saba protests commemorate the July 7, 1990 uprising that led to the introduction of multiparty democracy in Kenya after decades of one-party rule. Protesters today echo similar demands for political reform, rule of law, and an end to police violence.
Last month’s demonstrations, sparked by Ojwang’s death, resulted in at least 19 deaths, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Prosecutors have since charged six individuals, including three police officers, with murder. All have pleaded not guilty.