Kenyan youth protests over police brutality and COVID-19 curfew cracked down by the police
Admin GHRTV
Dozens of Kenyan youths and human rights activists marched out to protest in the Central Business District (CBD) of Kenya's capital city of Nairobi on July 7, 2021. The protest aimed to address police brutality, youth unemployment (in the third quarter of 2020 unemployment rate in Kenya for people aged between 15 and 24 accounted for 20.6 percent), and the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the countrywide curfew from 22:00 until 04:00 local time, prohibition of internal travel and public gatherings. Many protesters were seen wearing red shirts and carrying red flags featuring an abbreviation of the Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) and a logotype depicting a hammer and sickle.
The protest also marked the annual Saba Saba Day, commemorating Kenya's Second Liberation struggle, which took place on July 7, 1990. Each year on July 7, Kenyans recall the pro-democracy efforts of the past generations and advocate for the end of police brutality and the rule of law with the help of various human rights and civil society organizations. The organizations include the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Mathare Social Justice Center, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi, National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders, and the Social Justice Centres' Working Group.
Soon after the protest had started, the Nairobi police tried to disperse the demonstrators by using tear gas and firing live bullets into the air. Several protestors were arrested by police officers wearing civilian clothes. Kenyan authorities maintained heightened levels of security following the protest crackdown.
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