Stones and debris still littered the streets in the center of Kenya’s capital on Thursday, as a leading human rights group said the death toll from nationwide protests a day earlier had climbed to 16.
Thousands of people turned out across Kenya on Wednesday to protest government corruption and police brutality, many waving Kenyan flags and chanting that President William Ruto “must go.” The demonstrators clashed with security forces, who fired live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas.
Irũngũ Houghton, the executive director of Amnesty Kenya, said on Thursday that the death toll had risen overnight to 16 — most of whom, he said, had died from gunshot wounds. Among the dead was Fred Wamale Wanyonyi, a security guard who had been stationed at the headquarters of Kenya Power, according to the nation’s electricity supplier.
More than 400 people were injured, an alliance of human rights groups reported on Wednesday evening, including over 80 people with serious wounds.
