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Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki Thursday stated that 25 people died in recent anti-Finance Bill and anti-government protests, a figure significantly lower than the death toll reported by human rights organizations. During an appearance on Citizen TV, Kindiki refuted claims that over 40 people had died and more than 600 were injured.
He clarified that the injuries totaled nearly 400, including 43 police officers, and addressed rumors of a larger scale incident in Githurai, which he confirmed were unfounded. “I’ve heard of other figures, including the ones you are quoting, but I also heard about a massacre in Githurai from other sources which turned out not to be true,” Kindiki explained.
The majority of the 25 fatalities were due to gunshot wounds, while others succumbed to injuries from beatings. Kindiki emphasized the government’s commitment to thorough investigations into each death. “We have an account of each and every death, the manner in which they died. Many of them died of gunshot wounds and we have activated ballistic and forensic units of the DCI, the Crime Research and the Intelligence Bureau to help us account for the source of ammunition that killed the people of Kenya but also the circumstances in which they were killed,” he stated.
He acknowledged some instances of excessive force by police, but also defended the necessity of lethal force under certain conditions to protect lives. “Law enforcers are allowed to use lethal force but only in very exceptional circumstances where their own lives or the lives of people are in grave danger,” he noted.
This statement contrasts with reports from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), which documented 43 deaths and over 600 injuries during the demonstrations, highlighting ongoing discrepancies between government figures and those reported by independent organizations.
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