International Youth Day
International Youth Day is a global event that is celebrated on August 12 every year, and its main focus is to mark the achievements of the youth alongside the challenges they face.
It is a special occasion dedicated to recognising the potential and contributions of young people across the globe.
In Kenya, this year’s celebrations come at a time when several youths have been commended for their courage after staging protests calling out the current regime’s poor governance and urging President William Ruto to address the country’s economic crisis.
However, several youths lost their lives during the anti-government protests.
According to the data from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 39 protesters were killed while 361 were injured during the countrywide anti-government protest.
KNCHR data indicates that Nairobi County recorded the highest number of deaths during the protest, followed by Nakuru and Kajiado, while Mombasa and Nandi County recorded the least.
“The Commission in this report provides updates, observations, and recommendations: deaths and injuries: Data from our records indicates that thirty-nine protesters have died and three hundred and sixty-one were injured during the protests countrywide,“ the KNCHR report reads.
“This is cumulative data from June 18, 2024, to July 1, 2024. Post-mortems for most of the victims are yet to be conducted. The dead are from Nairobi (17), Nakuru (3), Laikipia (1), Narok (1), Kajiado (3), Uasin Gishu (4), Kakamega (1), Kisumu (2), Kisii (1), Mombasa (3), Siaya (1), Kiambu (1), and Nandi (1).”