Omtatah calls for accountability after Saba Saba protest deaths
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called for accountability following the July 7, 2025, protests that led to the deaths of eleven individuals and massive destruction of property.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Omtatah condemned what he described as a blatant and unconstitutional use of state violence against peaceful demonstrators, many of whom were young Kenyans marking the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba.
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“Sixty-two years ago, our forefathers courageously fought for Kenya’s independence, giving birth to a new nation founded on the principles of liberty, equality, and justice. They envisioned a government anchored in the values of human rights, democracy, social justice, and the rule of law—a promise that remains the bedrock of our Republic,” read the statement in part.
Further, he warned that the country is facing a profound moral and constitutional crisis, driven by state-sponsored repression and the erosion of democratic freedoms.
“The brutal crackdown on peaceful citizens of Kenya during the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba, a day symbolising the very foundation of our democratic struggle, must be unequivocally condemned. Those responsible for these atrocities must be held accountable under the full weight of the law,” he stated.
Omtatah stressed that allowing the killings and injuries to go unpunished would amount to a grave betrayal of Kenya’s founding principles.
He said that the recent government response to dissent amounts to a de facto imposition of martial law, with law enforcement behaving outside the bounds of the Constitution.
“We cannot and must not normalise the suppression of fundamental rights or the use of violence to silence dissent,” he added.
NPS
In a statement on July 7, 2025, the National Police Service (NPS) revealed that 52 police officers sustained injuries, while 114 civilians were injured during the protests.
According to NPS, 125 police vehicles, 36 government vehicles, and 47 civilian vehicles were damaged.
Police have arrested 567 people participating in the protests across the country.
NPS commended Kenyans for being law-abiding and heeding the call to maintain law and order.
However, police added that certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts, including attacks on law enforcement officers and looting.
“Regrettably, preliminary reports indicate fatalities, injuries, damage to motor vehicles, and several incidents of looting,” NPS said in a statement on Monday evening.
Police said each reported incident will be subject to further investigation, in accordance with the law.
