KNCHR Report Confirms 31 Deaths, 107 Injuries in Saba Saba Crackdown: A National Outcry Builds

Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has issued a scathing report on the state’s handling of the Saba Saba Day protests, confirming that at least 31 people were killed, 107 injured, and 532 arrested during the nationwide demonstrations. The report also documents two forced disappearances, casting a grim light on the scale and severity of the state’s response to the largely youth-led protests.

In a sharply worded statement, the KNCHR condemned the excessive use of force by police and called for immediate, transparent, and unconditional accountability from the government. The commission’s findings have sparked intense public and political debate and added to mounting pressure on authorities to launch an independent investigation into police conduct.

The protests, initially driven by frustration over economic hardship, government corruption, and a controversial finance bill, have now come to symbolize a broader struggle for civil liberties in Kenya. With the KNCHR’s report now in the public domain, the government faces renewed scrutiny from both local and international human rights bodies, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

The report is more than just a tally of casualties—it is a damning indictment of systemic failure and a direct challenge to Kenya’s security and governance institutions. It also reignites calls for urgent reform of the National Police Service, particularly its crowd-control protocols and use-of-force guidelines.

As families mourn and activists demand justice, the KNCHR’s revelations could become a pivotal moment in Kenya’s human rights journey—a national reckoning on the value of life, liberty, and the rule of law.