KNCHR Refutes President Ruto’s Claims of Misleading Information on Githurai ‘Massacre’
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has refuted President William Ruto’s Sunday night assertion that the state-funded watchdog misled the public regarding a purported ‘massacre’ in Nairobi’s Githurai area.
After extensive anti-Finance Bill protests on Tuesday, June 25, unverified claims surfaced suggesting that police and military forces were killing people in the residential area late at night.
During a media roundtable at State House Nairobi on Sunday, Ruto was questioned about the number of fatalities caused by police since the protests began. He stated the number to be 19, while rights groups, including KNCHR, have reported a higher figure.
He accused the commission of incorrectly reporting that 20 individuals were killed in the Githurai ‘massacre’.
KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede later issued a statement rejecting Ruto’s claims, asserting that the commission did not release any such statement.
“We, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, have not issued any statement on Githurai. We are still verifying the events in Githurai, Rongai, Migori, Nakuru, and other areas,” Odede said.
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Based on the data available, Odede noted that as of Wednesday, the commission had reported 22 deaths resulting from the protests, which is what was conveyed in their last statement.
Odede further mentioned that the commission has confirmed 24 deaths since the protests started on June 18.
In its June 26 press release following reports of the Githurai killings, KNCHR did not provide any numbers regarding the alleged incident, contrary to President Ruto’s claims.
Instead, the commission stated it was investigating the allegations.
“The Commission witnessed with shock as police officers entered residential areas of Githurai and Jinja on the evening of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, allegedly engaging in indiscriminate shooting of civilians. Consequently, the Commission has received unverified reports of numerous residents killed by stray bullets. We will investigate to ensure accountability for these atrocities,” the rights body stated.
KNCHR Refutes President Ruto’s Claims of Misleading Information on Githurai ‘Massacre’