KNCHR Refutes President Ruto's Allegations on GithuraiMassacre

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has firmly rejected President William Ruto's allegations that the state-funded watchdog misled the public regarding a reported ‘massacre’ in Nairobi’s Githurai area.

Following intense anti-Finance Bill protests on Tuesday, June 25, rumors began to circulate about a gruesome crackdown by police and military forces in Githurai, suggesting late-night bloodshed. These reports fueled widespread concern and outrage among the public.

President Ruto, addressing a media roundtable at State House Nairobi on Sunday night, was questioned about the fatalities resulting from the protests. While he maintained that the police had killed 19 people since the protests began, rights groups, including KNCHR, suggested the number was significantly higher.

However, KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede swiftly countered Ruto's narrative in an official statement, denying that the commission had made any declarations about the Githurai incident.

“We the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights have not issued any statement on Githurai. We are still in the process of confirming the happenings in Githurai, Rongai, Migori, Nakuru, and other parts of the country,” Odede clarified. She further noted, “From data in our possession, we had reports of 22 deaths arising from the protests, as of Wednesday when we made our last statement, and that is what we reported."

Odede also updated the figures, confirming 24 deaths since the protests began on June 18.

In its press release on June 26, following reports of the Githurai killings, KNCHR did not specify any numbers, contrary to President Ruto’s claims. Instead, the commission announced its intention to thoroughly investigate the allegations.

“The Commission witnessed with shock as police officers moved into residential areas of Githurai and Jinja in the evening of Tuesday 25th June 2024 and were allegedly involved in indiscriminate shooting of civilians. As a result of this, the Commission has received unverified reports of scores of residents who were killed by the stray bullets. We will be investigating this to ensure accountability for these atrocities,” read the KNCHR statement.

As investigations continue, the clash between KNCHR and the government underscores the deepening divide over the handling of the protests and the critical need for transparency and accountability in addressing human rights violations.