Saba Saba Protests: 2 People Shot Dead in Kangemi

Two people were shot dead on Monday, July 7, in Kangemi, during the Saba Saba commemoration Day protest.

The two were shot during a scuffle between the police and the protestors, as teargas canisters clouded the air and water cannon trucks dispersed the crowds.

According to local reports and videos seen by Nairobileo.co.ke, the situation at Kangemi heightened by the minute, even as more officers were deployed to the area. 

The two casualties were taken to Eagle Nursing Home in Kangemi, where Dr. Aoron Sikuku pronounced them dead.

The doctor further examined the victims, concluding the fatalities were from gunshot wounds on different parts of their bodies.

Hundreds of protestors have camped outside the hospital, demanding to leave with the bodies.

Two more people were reportedly shot dead in the Ngong area as residents decried bullets in homes and residential areas, even as medics tried to make their way into the now heavily chaotic zone.

Emergency responders have complained that the barricades continue to deter swift action for those in need in affected areas such as Ngong, Rongai, and Kangemi.

The Saba Saba protests kicked off early in the morning, with the police barricading major roads feeding the Nairobi CBD. Several motorists were arrested as they tried to sneak passengers into the city center.

Hours into the commemoration, more officers were deployed to the most active areas: Kitengela, Kangemi, Jogoo Road, and Thika Road, where running battles were reported. Surveillance helicopters hovered above the Githurai area where the protestors pelted stones at the anti-riot police.

Major highways in the country were also blocked as protestors burned tires and barricaded roads with stones and logs. The Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, the Karatina-Nairobi Highway, and the Embu-Nairobi Highway were among those affected.

Several towns have registered a number of protestors in the streets, led by Mombasa, Kisii, and Nyeri. A few cases of chaos and looting have been reported, while in contrast, Kisumu residents staged a calm procession advocating for unity.