Kenyan prosecutors have announced plans to file terrorism charges against 37 individuals arrested during violent anti-government protests that erupted in late June. These protests were initially organized to commemorate the first anniversary of substantial youth-led demonstrations against tax increases in the country. However, the situation escalated into chaos as clashes broke out between police and protestors.
In total, over 485 arrests were made amid the unrest, with charges ranging from murder and terrorism to rape. According to law enforcement, as of June 30, 37 individuals were still under active investigation. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) subsequently approved and filed terrorism charges against these individuals at the Kahawa Law Courts, located on the outskirts of Nairobi.
A statement from the DPP emphasized that the accused had caused significant damage to public property, with hundreds of businesses in Nairobi’s commercial district reportedly destroyed during the protests. It was noted that the prosecution’s intent was not to malign the demonstrators as a whole but to specifically target individuals implicated in acts of terrorism and destruction.
The suspects are expected to remain in detention until a court ruling is made on July 10 regarding their appeal against the terror charges.
The backdrop for these demonstrations has been a growing dissatisfaction with the state of Kenya’s economy, exacerbated by police brutality following President William Ruto’s assumption of office in 2022. Planned tax increases have particularly resonated with the country’s disenfranchised youth, igniting widespread protests throughout June and July 2024, which were met with harsh police repression.
Human rights organizations have criticized law enforcement for several deaths among demonstrators and numerous reports of forced disappearances. In the days following the protests, government officials equated the demonstrations to an “attempted coup,” while protesters alleged that the authorities had hired armed individuals to undermine their movement.
Fresh protests on Monday resulted in at least 10 fatalities, according to the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), highlighting the ongoing tensions and discontent in the country.
