One person has been fatally shot in Kitengela, Kajiado County, amid escalating anti-government protests calling for President William Ruto’s resignation. The initially peaceful demonstrations in Kitengela town turned violent when police officers deployed teargas to disperse the protestors.
The situation quickly deteriorated into running battles between protestors and anti-riot officers, who used water cannons in an attempt to control the crowd. As the unrest grew, General Service Unit (GSU) officers were brought in to support the overwhelmed police force. Videos circulating online show demonstrators carrying the victim, who was shot in the head, to another location.
This incident adds to the over 51 deaths recorded during the ongoing protests, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). The human rights organization has also reported 413 injuries and 59 abductions linked to the demonstrations.
On Tuesday morning, protests erupted in more than 23 counties, including Nairobi, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Nyeri, Makueni, Machakos, Laikipia, Homa Bay, Kilifi, and Turkana. Other affected counties are Kajiado, Baringo, Kericho, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Bungoma, and Trans Nzoia.
In Nairobi, anti-riot officers deployed teargas against peaceful protestors carrying Kenyan flags and placards. Businesses across the Central Business Districts (CBD) of various towns remained closed as the protests continued throughout the day.
“No dialogue, just actions,” chanted the protestors, demanding the president’s resignation.