Busia Senator and prominent human rights defender Okiya Omtatah has revealed that he intentionally discouraged protestors from marching to State House during the June 25 anniversary demonstrations, warning that such an action could have resulted in deadly violence.
“There was immense pressure for the crowd to head to State House, but I deliberately chose to sit down and draw people around me to prevent that march,” Omtatah told reporters. “I knew lives would be lost, and I didn’t want more bloodshed while we were honouring those already killed.”
His comments followed nationwide protests commemorating the one-year anniversary of the deadly June 25, 2024, anti-government demonstrations. This year’s protests, largely youth-led, aimed to remember victims of police brutality and call for justice for those killed during last year’s unrest and the most recent crackdowns.
As tensions soared, Omtatah appealed for calm and urged Kenyans to reject calls for an uprising. Instead, he encouraged them to focus on achieving change through peaceful, democratic means—specifically the ballot box in the 2027 general elections.
“Look at Sudan,” he said. “They failed to channel public anger into a revolution and ended up in endless conflict. We must avoid that path.”
Omtatah emphasized the need for civic education and electoral vigilance, urging citizens to register as voters and closely monitor the 2027 elections. He also challenged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to improve transparency by publishing the GPS coordinates of all polling stations, a move he said could help prevent irregularities like those reported in 2022.
His call for non-violence came just hours after fresh unrest gripped the nation on Wednesday, as thousands flooded the streets to remember the victims of last year’s protests against the Finance Bill.
Tragically, the day ended with at least 16 confirmed deaths—most of them caused by police gunfire, according to Amnesty International Kenya.
“Most were shot by police,” said Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty Kenya, in a statement to Reuters. He noted that five of the deaths had been verified as caused by bullets.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported over 400 injuries among protestors, police officers, and journalists. It cited serious allegations of excessive force, including the use of rubber bullets, live ammunition, and water cannons.
Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) reported that 61 people were arrested, and Kenyatta National Hospital confirmed receiving over 100 injured individuals, the majority suffering from gunshot wounds.
