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Saba Saba: Protests death toll hits 38
Protesters carry their injured colleague during Saba Saba protests in Nairobi on July 7, 2025.
The death toll from Monday’s Saba Saba demonstrations has risen to 38, with at least 130 still nursing injuries at home and in various hospitals, the State human rights defender has said.
Out of the 15 post-mortems already done, a total of 14 showed that they died from gunshot wounds, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
The agency said the deaths occurred in Kiambu (which leads so far with eight deaths), six each in Nairobi and Kajiado, four in Nakuru, three each in Kirinyaga and Murang’a, two each in Embu, Meru and Laikipia, and one each in Nyamira and Nyandarua.
“Four of the dead are female, two are children, while the majority of those already identified are youth below 25 years. Out of the 15 post-mortems conducted so far, the majority (14) died from gunshot injuries, including a 12-year-old girl who was shot while watching TV at home in Kiambu,” the agency’s vice chairperson, Dr Raymond Nyeris, said in a statement on Friday evening.
Police officers clear a section of the Eldoret-Bungoma highway in Eldoret City that had been blocked by protesters on July 07, 2025.
This came as the Consortium to Promote Human Rights, Civic Freedoms and Media Development in Sub-Saharan Africa (CHARM) expressed deep concern over what it terms as growing threats to civic space and press freedom across the region.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, CHARM noted a series of recent incidents involving violence against protesters, arbitrary arrests, suppression of media, and the erosion of fundamental freedoms in several African countries, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Togo, and Tanzania.
“Civic space continues to shrink, with growing incidents of violence against protesters, intimidation of activists and journalists, arbitrary detention, and tighter restrictions on media and civil society,” the consortium stated.
In Kenya, the organization said the government’s response to public demonstrations held on June 25 to mark the anniversary of the 2024 Finance Bill protests resulted in at least 16 deaths and over 400 injuries.
CHARM condemned the alleged use of live ammunition and the arrest of civil society members, including the Africa Rising Consortium. The consortium also noted reports that the Communication Authority ordered media outlets to halt live coverage and switched off three independent TV stations and called the actions unlawful and in violation of press freedom.
“Allegations of live ammunition use, detention without trial, and individuals being held incommunicado without legal or family contact represent serious violations of rights. These developments raise critical concerns over the use of excessive force, suppression of free expression, and the erosion of due process,” read the statement.
A police officer aims his gun at protesters on Old Namanga Road in Kitengela during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025.
In Zimbabwe, the statement highlighted the arrest of Zimbabwe Independent Editor Faith Zaba over a satirical article and the 72-day detention of NewsDay journalist Blessed Mhlanga. CHARM also cited a report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project documenting over 1,500 people affected by political violence during the by-elections, including 14 cases of human rights violations.
In Togo, at least seven people were killed during protests on June 26 triggered by rising costs of living. Among the dead were two minor brothers. CHARM said civil society organizations reported arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and property destruction. Amnesty International has since called for accountability and an end to excessive force against protesters.
In Tanzania, the organization noted that opposition leader Tindu Lissu was arrested on treason charges. The statement also pointed to the arbitrary arrest and reported torture of regional observers Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda.
They have also called upon regional bodies such as the African Union, the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community of West African States to speak out against human rights abuses on the continent.
