Kenya protests’ death toll rises to 19, UN calls for calm

Over 531 people were wounded and 179 arrested, Human Rights Watch urged accountability. Photo / AFP

The death toll from protests in Kenya to mark the anniversary of a massive crackdown on anti-tax demonstrations has risen to 19, with another 15 people missing, the national human-rights commission said on Friday.

Wednesday’s anniversary protests drew thousands of people into the streets across Kenya, descending into chaos when young men battled police and destroyed thousands of businesses.

“The Commission strongly condemns all human rights violations and urges accountability from all responsible parties,” the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said in a statement.

It said it had so far documented 19 fatalities in Wednesday’s violence and 15 “enforced disappearances”.

That was an increase from a previous death toll of 16.

KNCHR, a government agency, said 531 people had been wounded and 179 arrested.

Human Rights Watch called for authorities to be held accountable for the abuses witnessed.

“Kenyan authorities should not treat protesters as criminals,” said Otsieno Namwaya, associate Africa director at the rights group.

The United Nations deplored the violence and called for calm and restraint.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan Government condemned the vandalism and looting of a national fertiliser depot during the protests.

The ministry of agriculture said more than 7354 bags of fertiliser, worth around $230,000, were looted in Meru, about 200 kilometres east of Nairobi.

“Fertiliser was looted, fertiliser meant to sustain farmers through this planting season,” the ministry said, calling it “a direct assault on Kenya’s food security”.

“Its loss threatens to trigger a catastrophic crisis for both food crop and cash crop production.”

Agriculture accounts for about 21% of Kenya’s economy.

Agriculture minister Mutahi Kagwe called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

- Agence France-Presse