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The 2025 Saba Saba commemorations, once a day to reflect on Kenya’s hard-fought democracy, turned bloody and chaotic. What began as a call for reforms quickly spiraled into a national tragedy. In the haze of tear gas and the echo of gunshots, dozens were injured or killed. Today, their stories hang in limbo—trapped between a government’s silence and a public’s desperate demand for justice.
As of July 7th, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed over 10 fatalities and dozens of injuries across 17 counties. Yet beyond the statistics lie human lives—sons, daughters, workers, students—some left paralyzed, others buried in quiet, hurried funerals. In hospitals, wounded protesters grapple with physical pain and emotional trauma, while their families stare down soaring medical bills, uncertain futures, and a legal system moving at a snail’s pace.
The injured were rushed to overwhelmed public hospitals, some without identification, others with bullets lodged deep in their bodies. Doctors, constrained by limited supplies and inadequate resources, worked around the clock. Some victims were reportedly denied treatment due to the “sensitive” nature of their injuries, leaving families to seek private care—often unaffordable.
For families of the deceased, the trauma is compounded by bureaucratic hurdles. Death certificates remain unprocessed in some counties, and no formal government compensation package has been announced. The absence of official recognition has only intensified public anger, with many accusing state agencies of abandoning those caught in the crossfire.
Authorities have promised investigations but offered no clear timelines. The National Police Service has shifted focus to “goons” and infiltrators who allegedly hijacked the protests, deflecting attention from allegations of excessive force and unlawful shootings. The Ministry of Interior remains largely silent on whether the officers involved in the shootings will face prosecution.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has said it is investigating, but past incidents suggest accountability may be distant. Previous protest deaths remain unresolved, and public confidence in police oversight mechanisms continues to erode. With many officers operating in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles, victims’ families say identifying the shooters is nearly impossible.
Human rights groups have condemned what they call a systemic crackdown on civil liberties. Organizations like KNCHR and the Law Society of Kenya are pushing for independent inquests, public disclosures of police deployment data, and judicial action against those involved in the use of live ammunition on civilians.
Protests continue in some urban centers, with demonstrators calling for state recognition of the wounded and proper compensation for the bereaved. In Nairobi and Kisumu, activists are holding weekly vigils, reading out the names of the injured and the dead in candle-lit circles.
Beyond the physical and legal implications, the mental health toll is devastating. Survivors describe recurring nightmares, depression, and fear of public gatherings. In rural towns, some have been shunned as “troublemakers” simply for participating in the demonstrations. Without access to counseling services, many are left to suffer in silence.
As families wait in anguish and victims struggle to rebuild their lives, one question echoes across the country—what justice awaits those shot on Saba Saba?
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