Kenya experienced several heart-wrenching tragedies that led to the loss of tens of lives at once.
While others lost their lives, some were left maimed and others were injured in the disasters that rocked the country for the better part of the year.
Here is a list of some of the tragedies that shook the nation in 2024;
GBV
From the start of the year, Kenya found itself grappling with the spate of femicides sending shockwaves across the nation.
At the start of the year, on January 3, Scarlet Wahu, a socialite and the younger sister to Pastor Victor Kanyari, was found brutally murdered in South B and barely two weeks after, 20-year-old Rita Waeni was found dismembered in Roysambu.
Other femicide cases reported include the brutal death of Mercy Kwamboka, a 20-year-old University of Nairobi student, who was found in a bush in Mwiki area on September 28, 2024, and the death of Rebecca Cheptegei who was set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema among others.
According to a report by the National Police Service (NPS), 97 cases of femicide have been reported in the last three months alone, emphasizing the magnitude of the crisis that has befallen the country.
In his State of the Nation address on November 21, 2024, President William Ruto acknowledged that gender-based violence (GBV) had reached crisis levels, demanding urgent national attention.
Floods
In March this year, hundreds of Kenyans lost their lives to floods and landslides, after weeks of heavy rains.
Thousands were also forced to flee their homes in search of better grounds after the rains wreaked havoc on their homes.
Infrastructure was also not spared as various bridges and roads were rendered impassable after the destruction from the rains.
The unfortunate disaster sparked debate prompting key citizens worldwide including Pope Francis to speak on the matter.
“I … wish to express to the people of Kenya my spiritual closeness at this time as severe flooding has tragically taken the lives of many of our brothers and sisters, injured others and caused widespread destruction,” he stated at the time.
Embakasi fire tragedy
Three people lost their lives and 280 others were left injured after a gas explosion in Mradi Village in Embakasi on the night of Thursday, February 1, 2024.
This unfortunate event led to the displacement of several people and destruction of property of unknown value.
Endarasha school tragedy
The unexpected school fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha in Embu saw the unfortunate demise of 21 students.
The incident sent shockwaves across the country sparking national debate.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Education, through President William Ruto, ordered a national assessment of all boarding schools to ensure their safety.
Mukuru tragedy
In July, 42 mutilated bodies of women dumped in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums were discovered by locals.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) implicated Collins Jumaisi as the person of interest in the murder case after claiming that he confessed to the murders.
Jumaisi, however, disputed the allegations and accused detectives of molesting him to confess to the crime.
He was arrested and placed in custody at the Muthaiga Police Station but later escaped and he is still at large.
Deaths and police brutality during Gen Z protests
Several Kenyans were left maimed and others dead by police officers who used excessive force in their quest to disperse protesters during demonstrations.
The protests started on June 18, 2024, and were triggered by the Finance Bill 2024, which sought to increase taxes.
60 youthful Kenyans lost their lives during the protests, according to a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
74 other Kenyans protesting were also forcibly disappeared, and 26 are still missing.
Similarly, 1,376 arbitrary arrests and 610 injuries sustained by demonstrators were also reported.
“Most injuries were inflicted by security officers. However, 25 cases of injuries to security officers caused by protesters were also documented,” KNCHR Vice-Chairperson Raymond Nyeris said in the report.
