Machakos: One Feared Dead, Several Injured as Police Open Fire on Protesters in Matuu
- At least one person is alleged to have died during a peaceful protest that turned violent in Matuu, Machakos county
- According to eyewitnesses who spoke to TUKO.co.ke, police officers shot at protesters as they attempted to storm into Matuu Police Station
- The eyewitnesses said several people were also injured during the incident and rushed to nearby health facilities
- Several other urban areas in Machakos county have also witnessed protests as youths mark a year since the infamous Occupy Parliament protests
Machakos: One person is feared dead and at least four others are nursing bullet wounds after police reportedly opened fire at protesters in Matuu town, Yatta sub-county.
Source: Original
Why Machakos police shot at protesters
The victims were part of a group of mainly young demonstrators who had marched towards Matuu Police Station in an attempt to storm it as part of the ongoing nationwide protests commemorating the Gen Z protesters who lost their lives exactly one year ago during the anti-Finance Bill protests of 2024.
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According to eyewitnesses who spoke to TUKO.co.ke, the demonstrators were unarmed and chanting slogans while lighting bonfires just outside the police station when chaos broke out.
“They were just shouting, singing, and lighting tyres. Then we heard gunshots. People were screaming and running in every direction, scampering for safety. It was scary,” said a boda boda rider who witnessed the incident.
At least four protesters sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to different hospitals in Matuu and the surrounding areas.
One young man is feared to have died on the spot, although authorities have not formally confirmed the fatality.
How did the Matuu police respond to protesters?
Eyewitnesses and residents condemned the police response, describing it as excessive and unnecessary.
“The police are not doing a good thing. Stop killing us! They have shot four people. In fact, one does not have an ear,” a visibly shaken protester said at the scene.
“We were only here to mourn those who died last year and to demand justice,” he added.
Security remains tight in Matuu as more protests are expected in the coming hours.
Source: Original
The protests in Matuu were mirrored in major towns across the country. In the county, other areas where demonstrations are ongoing include Mlolongo and Machakos town.
Latest from Gen Z protests
- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino joined the youths in the Nairobi protests
- Kenyans laid flowers on the razor wire that police had erected around Parliament Road overnight to block protesters
- A protester's hand was blown off by a tear-gas canister in Nairobi in an incident captured on camera
Protests in Eldoret
TUKO.co.ke reported that Gen Zs from several parts of the country took to the streets to commemorate those who were killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
While most of the action has been witnessed in the country's capital, Nairobi, youths in several other major towns also joined the protests.
In Eldoret, youths marched through the city centre as they demanded justice. Some youths also confronted the police over the presence of men who were armed with batons.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Agnes Mutio Agnes Mumo is a seasoned journalist with over seven years of experience in the digital media industry. She is an accredited journalist by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and has previously worked with leading online platforms such as Hivisasa.com 2016-2020 and Mauvoo.com.2020-2025. She covers topics like crime, politics, health and governance. Agnes is known for her in-depth reporting and commitment to impactful storytelling. She's currently a TUKO.co.ke correspondent based in Machakos county. Email address: Mutioagnes454@gmail.com
