Tear gas fired as justice sought for those killed by police

Kenyan police fired tear gas in the capital, Nairobi, to disperse anti-government protests.

In the city centre, many businesses remained closed. Protesters also took to the streets in other cities, including Mombasa and Kisumu.

According to human rights groups, since protests against a controversial finance bill began two weeks ago, 39 people have been killed by security forces.

President William Ruto has since abandoned the proposed tax increases – but protests have turned into calls for his resignation and anger over police brutality.

Cars can be seen on fire amid chaotic scenes in Mombasa as protesters clash with police.

Clashes in Nairobi have forced magistrates to postpone hearings at a court in the city, the Daily Nation newspaper reported.

The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says most of the protesters were killed last Tuesday when MPs voted to pass the bill.

Seventeen people died in Nairobi and 22 others were killed in other parts of the country, it said in a statement Monday evening.

There were also 361 injured, 32 cases of “forced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests, he said.

According to Amnesty International, 24 protesters were killed during the demonstrations. Police had previously reported 19 deaths.

The KNCHR condemned “in the strongest possible terms the unjustified violence and force that has been inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and safe spaces such as church emergency medical centres and ambulances.”

She said the force used against the protesters “was excessive and disproportionate.”

President Ruto said the police had “done their best” during a roundtable discussion with journalists on Sunday.

He added that “if there were excesses” they would be dealt with through “existing mechanisms.”