Three people died during the week-long protests against the Finance Bill, 2024 in Mombasa.
The three according to Human rights defenders, died as a result of police brutality.
Emmanuel Gigs Tata, 20 was chocked by a teargas canister lobbed on him at Mwembe tayari are within Mombasa Central Business District (CBD).
According to the protesters, Gigs was among them chanting the Anti-Finance Bill and poor governance songs, that prompted police to lob several teargas canisters in a bid to disperse the crowd.
The late Tata could not survive the strong chocking fumes and he collapsed after complaining of breathing problems.
“His colleagues rushed him to the Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital for urgent medical attention. However, he was pronounced dead on arrival,” said Haki Africa Rapid Response Officer Mathias Shipeta.
Tata has been living with his parents in Mikindani area in Jomvu Sub county.
Another family from Mombasa is mourning their kin 36-year old Joash Ombati who died from gun shots during the protests.
His family positively identified the body at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue on Saturday.
The family said they have been searching for Ombati for three consecutive days only to find his body at the Referral Hospital morgue with multiple gunshot wounds.
The families are demanding answers from the government over the reckless killings.
The third body, also with multiple gunshot wounds on the back is yet to be positively identified.
The rights defenders have come out strongly condemning the police for the reckless shooting of unarmed protesters.
Led by Mr Shipeta, they said the protests have been largely peaceful and at no point the police were supposed to use excessive force to disperse the youth.
“The protesters were on a good course, very few selfish people were backing the Finance Bill. The signal was very clear from the beginning that Kenyans did not want anything to do with this bill,” said the activist.
Shipeta urged the police to work within the stipulated guidelines and constitution and stop fighting and killing unarmed civilians fighting for their rights.
The human rights defender however, appealed to the Gen-Z to now revert to constructive dialogue with the government for an amicable solution to their demands.
“The issues raised by the youthful generation among them unemployment, bad governance and corruption are very genuine and tangible, President William Ruto should listen them,” added Shipeta.
President Ruto rejected the Bill after an outrage from Kenyans countrywide.
Already the government has released the guidelines of engagement with various stakeholders urging various groups and stakeholders to nominate representatives to the 100-person Multi-sectrol dialogue Committee.
