Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Saturday paid an emotional visit to young protesters recuperating from gunshot wounds at Kenyatta National Hospital, condemning what he described as a brutal and disproportionate police response during Wednesday’s demonstrations.
In a moving statement issued after the visit, Omtatah revealed that three youths who had accompanied him during the protests were seriously injured. Two of them remain in critical condition. “At Nation Centre, one was shot three times. At Teleposta, as we sat in peace, brave souls rose and formed a human shield to protect me from live bullets. As a result, three of them got shot,” he said.
Omtatah recounted harrowing scenes of violence, including a young man struck by seven bullets and a law student who sustained six gunshot wounds. Another protester, shot twice, had just undergone surgery.
“They stood firm where many would have run. The bullets that tore through them were meant to silence me, but they chose to stand between fear and hope,” he said.
The senator disclosed that at least 35 young people are currently admitted to hospitals, suffering from wounds inflicted by live bullets, rubber bullets, and excessive force. He criticized the government’s response, stating, “A government that fears its own youth more than it fears injustice has lost its way.”
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), in a preliminary report, confirmed 19 deaths, 531 injuries, and 15 forced disappearances during the protests. It also documented cases of sexual violence and unlawful arrests.
The demonstrations, meant to commemorate the youth-led protests that began in 2024, had started peacefully before turning violent in several parts of Nairobi and other towns. Omtatah praised the resilience of the youth, urging them to stay strong and united. “Hold your heads high comrades. We are many. We are awake. And we will finish this struggle together. Bado mapambano!” he declared.
Omtatah’s visit has reignited national outrage, adding pressure on the government to address growing concerns over police brutality and the right to peaceful protest.
