IPOA Confirms 65 Killed, Blames Police Excessive Force in Kenya Protests

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has confirmed that during the June and July 2025 protests in Kenya, 65 people died, 342 civilians and 171 police officers were injured, and significant property damage occurred. The IPOA report highlighted serious breaches of constitutional policing standards, including use of excessive and disproportionate force, lack of professionalism, failure to uphold public safety and rights, and poor notification and management of protests by police. The fatalities were spread across several protests, with the highest deaths recorded during the Saba Saba demonstrations. The authority also criticized police for concealment of identity markers like name tags and vehicle number plates and noted a problematic culture of non-compliance, including failure to report deaths as required by law. President William Ruto ordered police to shoot protesters in the legs rather than kill them, a directive that sparked condemnation from rights groups who accuse the government of encouraging deadly force. IPOA called for better public order management and improved welfare for police officers tasked with enforcing order and protecting public property.