Human Rights Group say 16 pipo die as protesters face police for Kenya

Human Rights Group Amnesty for Kenya say at least 16 pipo die and odas injure as thousands enta streets inside a day of protests across Kenya against President William Ruto government.

Amnesty Kenya executive director Irungu Houghton tell BBC say di figures dey verified by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and all those wey die suffer from gunshot wounds.

Police bin clash with protesters for di capital Nairobi and oda cities exactly one year afta di deadly anti-tax demonstrations wey hit di nation for 2024.

Many of those wey demonstrate dey hala "Ruto must go" and wave branches as symbol of peaceful opposition to im rule.

Di govment bin ban live TV and radio coverage of di protests, but di High Court for di capital Nairobi, bin overturn di decree.

Authorities never yet give any casualty figures from Wednesday protests, but Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya and Police Reforms Working Group bin tok inside joint statement say at least eight protesters die.

Of di 400 wey injure, 83 need "specialised treatment" and eight suffer from gunshot wounds. Di injured include three police officers, di statement add.

President William Ruto bin appeal to protesters say make dem no threaten di peace and stability for di kontri, as demonstrators march toward im official residence for Nairobi.

"Dis na our kontri, and we need to protect di peace. We must operate within di law," Oga Ruto tok.

Di presidentbin dey attend one burial ceremony for di coastal county of Kilifi.

Im absence from di capital during a day of nationwide protests dey notable as young protesters threaten to storm im official residence, and demand im resignation.

"Protests no suppose destroy peace for Kenya. We no get anoda kontri wey we go go wen tins go wrong. Na our responsibility to keep our kontri safe," e add.

Police for several parts of di kontri bin engage for running battles wit protesters, dem use tear gas and water cannons to scata growing crowds.

In some instances, officers wey e over bin dey forced to withdraw, as protesters continue to demonstrate.

Di protest bin dey branded as a "memorial march," and na to honour dose wey dem kill during last year nationwide demonstrations against di controversial Finance Bill 2024.

Last year, young Kenyans lead protest, against one unpopular finance bill wey dem wan use to introduce new taxes.

Dem forcefully enta di parliament on 25 June 2024 and force di govment make dem drop di controversial proposals. Dat protest no end well.

Also, today protest dey gingered by ongoing public anger ova police brutality, including di death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang for police custody.

Also, di shooting of 22-year-old street vendor Boniface Kariuki during anti-govment demonstrations last week, dey also spark serious anger.

Di situation for Nairobi remain tense.

How we reach here

For June 2024, bold and new generation of young Kenyan protesters bin enta streets to force di goment to stop some of dia unpopular tax proposals.

Wetin happun be say Kenyan President William Ruto sign one new law wey require Kenyans to pay a 1.5% monthly tax to fund construction of low-cost houses, dem add VAT to bread including oda levies.

Dis vex di young citizens for Kenya and dem start from TikTok to tok about di controversial finance bill.

Dis na as hundreds of protesters wey feel say Kenyans dey already overtaxed wit little to show for am - face police wey fire tear gas - to march enta di capital, Nairobi.

Di govment of President William Ruto quickly cancel di finance bill.

Dat protest bring di city central business district to a standstill, but pipo die afta police shoot dem.

BBC bin identify di members of Kenya security forces wey shoot anti-tax protesters for di kontri parliament last June.

Di BBC analysis of more dan 5,000 images also show say dose wey dem kill for dia no get any weapon and dem no pose any threat.

On 17 June 2025, Kenyan protesters clash wit young men wey carry weapon - club - wey dey loyal to di govment, for di centre of di capital, Nairobi.

Di demonstration hapun afta di death of Ojwang for police custody, dem dey demand for di sacking of di top police officer.

Police bin tok say Ojwang die of self-inflicted wounds, but dem retract di statement afta autopsy find say e likely die afta assault. Dem don arrest two policemen in connection wit di death.