Death toll from Saba Saba protests hits 38, KNCHR reports
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has confirmed that the death toll from the Saba Saba demonstrations has risen to 38, with at least 130 more people injured across the country.
In a press statement released Friday, July 11, 2025, evening, the Commission condemned the excessive use of force and called on the government to urgently address the mounting human rights violations.
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The demonstrations, held annually on July 7, 2025, to mark the struggle for multiparty democracy in Kenya, turned deadly this year amid growing public discontent over economic conditions and governance.
According to KNCHR, the fatalities span several counties, with Kiambu recording the highest number at eight deaths, followed by Nairobi and Kajiado with six each.
“The Commission observes that the death toll has now risen to thirty-eight (38) people as of 1800hrs today,” KNCHR stated. At least one hundred and thirty (130) people are still nursing injuries at home and in various health facilities across the country,” the statement read.
The Commission reported that 14 out of the 15 postmortems conducted so far revealed that victims died from gunshot wounds, raising serious questions about the conduct of security forces during the protests.
Call for accountability
Among the dead is a 12-year-old girl from Kiambu who was fatally shot while watching television at home.
KNCHR emphasised that the majority of the victims are youth below 25 years, with four women and two children among the deceased.
“The Commission has been assisting the families of the deceased in conducting postmortems in collaboration with the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and other partners in the Civil Society,” the statement said.
Despite a government directive to waive medical and mortuary fees for victims, many families report being charged for postmortem services and other medical expenses. KNCHR criticised these actions as not only unlawful but also inhumane, especially for vulnerable families already grappling with grief and financial hardship.
“The families claim they are also being asked to pay the postmortem charges in addition to other medical and mortuary bills, contrary to the waiver issued by the Government. A majority of these families are underprivileged and unable to pay the bills,” KNCHR said.
The rights body is now demanding that the Ministry of Health immediately and unconditionally implement the promised waiver of all medical bills related to the protests.
KNCHR reiterated its commitment to monitoring and documenting human rights violations, urging citizens to continue reporting incidents.
“The Commission remains steadfast in the discharge of its duties in line with its Constitutional and Statutory mandate,” the statement noted.
