A total of 39 people were killed in anti-government protests in Kenya that erupted last month over planned tax hikes, AFP reported, quoted by BNR .
This is double what the government has admitted so far.
The updated death toll was announced by Kenya's National Human Rights Commission on the eve of an expected new series of demonstrations led mostly by Generation Z activists against President William Ruto's government.
„Our records show that thirty-nine people have died and three hundred and sixty-one have been injured in protests across the country,” the state-funded body said in a statement. The figures cover the period from June 18 to July 1.
He also stated that there were 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protesters.
„The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the unjustified violence and force that was used on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe places such as churches, emergency medical centers and ambulances,” it said. in the message.
„We claim that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate”.
Activists have called for fresh protests to start from July 2, despite Ruto last week announcing that the bill containing the controversial tax hikes would be withdrawn.