‘Over 300 injured demonstrators treated in Nairobi so far’ – KMPDU’s Davji Atellah

Over 300 people in Nairobi have been injured and treated since the onset of the Anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah has said.

Atellah in a statement on Thursday, June 20, 2024, stated that the said number of people have been treated by a team from Medics For Kenya.

Brutal force

He says the injuries were inflicted on the people by the police who have been using excessive force on the peaceful demonstrators in Nairobi.

“In the wake of recent protests, the #MedicsForKenya team has reported treating over 300 injured demonstrators in Nairobi, a distressing testament to the excessive force employed by law enforcement,” he stated.

Atellah went ahead to condemn the police for their conduct during the protests.

Violation of human rights

He further notes that the use of brutal force by police on protesters violates basic human rights. 

Atellah has also pointed out that the excessive force used by the police undermines the democratic principles that protect free speech and assembly.

He said those responsible should be held accountable and advocated for policing reforms that ensure the safety and dignity of all citizens.

“This brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters not only violates basic human rights but also undermines the democratic principles that protect free speech and assembly. It’s imperative that we hold those responsible accountable and advocate for policing reforms that ensure the safety and dignity of all citizens,” Atellah said.

In the wake of recent protests, the #MedicsForKenya team has reported treating over 300 injured demonstrators in Nairobi, a distressing testament to the excessive force employed by law enforcement. This brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters not only violates basic human rights… pic.twitter.com/iHqZbT87ZN

— Davji Bhimji Atellah (@Davji) June 20, 2024

Atellah is a victim of police brutality, having been injured during the doctors’ strike that kicked off in April 2024 and lasted for over two months.

The KMPDU boss was hit by a tear gas canister while leading the medical interns’ protests outside the Ministry of Health offices in Nairobi.

Protesters injured

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Kenya Red Cross said that its team had treated four people in Nairobi, who had been injured during the protests.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has since issued a statement calling on Kenyans to submit their complaints on the conduct of the police officers during the ongoing protests.

IPOA went ahead to share phone numbers for their different offices across the country, which Kenyans can use to submit their complaints.