In a shocking revelation, the BBC has identified the members of Kenya's security forces responsible for shooting unarmed anti-tax protesters during demonstrations on June 25, 2024, near the country's parliament. Their analysis of over 5,000 images confirms that those killed posed no threat, prompting national outrage against the government's disregard for the right to peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the constitution.
Despite a parliamentary mandate for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate these killings, no reports have been released, and nobody has been held accountable for their deaths. The analysis revealed a disturbing sequence of events as the protests escalated outside the parliamentary building, where students and young activists had gathered to oppose a controversial financial bill that sought to increase taxes.
Initially, the atmosphere was described as festive by participants like human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, who likened it to a carnival as youth streamed into Nairobi. However, the government's heavy-handed response to the peaceful protest quickly turned chaotic; tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons were deployed against the masses. By the time the Finance Bill was voted on, thousands had gathered, unifying different economic classes against the ruling elite.
Tensions peaked when a protest incursion into the parliamentary grounds occurred following the vote result announcement. In ensuing clashes, multiple unarmed protesters were shot, including two men, David Chege and Ericsson Mutisya, who tragically lost their lives as police and military actions intensified. The BBC's investigation pinned responsibility for the deadly shots on a specific police officer identified as John Kaboi.
As the chaos subsided, subsequent gunfire resulted in the death of another unarmed protester, Eric Shieni. Eyewitness accounts highlight the potential for non-lethal crowd control instead of lethal force, raising serious ethical questions about the actions of security forces.
In the aftermath, President William Ruto acknowledged public discontent and announced the abandonment of the finance bill, yet the lack of accountability for security forces remains a grave concern. As protesters and civil rights activists remain determined to seek justice, the dialogue on governmental accountability and the right to protest in Kenya continues, underscoring a critical moment in the nation's history.
