Four people injured during the June 25 anti-government protests remain hospitalised at Matuu Level IV Hospital, recovering from gunshot wounds sustained during demonstrations marking the one-year anniversary of last year’s deadly tax protests.
Highlights
- Four individuals still admitted at Matuu Level IV Hospital after protests.
- All sustained gunshot injuries during June 25 demonstrations.
- Protests commemorated last year’s anti-tax bill uprising.
- National concern over police use of live bullets continues to grow.
- Rights groups urge investigations into excessive force.
Main Story
Four victims from the June 25 anniversary demonstrations are receiving treatment at Matuu Level IV Hospital, Yatta sub-county. Hospital officials confirmed the patients were admitted with gunshot wounds believed to have been inflicted during clashes between police and protesters in Machakos County.
The demonstrations, which started as a commemoration of the 2024 anti-tax protests, saw renewed calls for economic justice, youth inclusion, and police accountability. However, pockets of violence flared up in parts of the country, including Machakos, where officers reportedly used live ammunition to disperse crowds.
Local leaders and rights organisations have condemned the use of lethal force against civilians. The Kenya Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International Kenya have both called for independent investigations into the shootings, urging the government to uphold the constitutional right to peaceful protest.
While Matuu has since returned to calm, tensions remain high. Families of the injured are demanding justice and support, while some residents have described fear of further police crackdowns. Civil society groups are now documenting incidents across counties as part of a national rights watch effort.
As the injured recover in silence, their wounds speak volumes — about justice delayed, rights violated, and the enduring fight for a freer, fairer Kenya.
