Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that 42 Kenyans lost their lives during the anti-government protests that took place between June and August.
This figure contradicts reports from several human rights organizations, which claim the death toll is as high as 61.
During his appearance before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee on Thursday, Kindiki presented a report detailing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 30 individuals during the protests.
However, he requested an additional 24 hours to provide information on the remaining 12 cases, emphasizing that the government has nothing to conceal.
“I am requesting 24 hours to furnish the Committee with supplementary information on the other 12 cases.
The government has nothing to hide.
It’s crucial to establish how these individuals died, and if there is culpability, including by security personnel, we must ensure that justice is served,” he stated.
Kindiki also defended the police’s handling of the protests, asserting that there is no evidence of brutality on their part.
He clarified that the government does not endorse abductions and claimed that there is no proof connecting the police to the 132 Kenyans currently reported missing.
“Both the President and I have made it clear that this administration does not support abductions, extra-judicial killings, or enforced disappearances.
It is unjust to attribute such a policy to us without concrete evidence of any official pronouncements endorsing these illegal actions,” he remarked.
He further stated, “If the police had not used lethal force during the invasion of Parliament, our current situation would be different.”
Kindiki added that the mere fact that a Kenyan was shot near police officers during the protests does not conclusively prove police involvement.
His figures clash with findings from Amnesty International and other human rights organizations, which described the police response during the protests as chaotic and lacking coordination.
An Amnesty report released on Wednesday condemned the level of violence and disregard for human rights, stating, “The authorities had ample time to prepare for a peaceful protest, but instead, the response was marked by excessive use of force.”
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