President William Ruto has said Kennedy Onyango was shot by a criminal and not a police.
The 12-year-old was shot during anti-Finance Bill protests in Rongai, Kajiado county last week.
Speaking during his inaugural X Space conversation with the youth, Ruto claimed a criminal snatched a gun from an officer and started shooting indiscriminately leading to Onyango's death.
"Kennedy Onyango was shot by a criminal who snatched a gun from an officer and started shooting indiscriminately," Ruto said.
Earlier, Ruto said the government will support those who lost their lives and were injured.
In his address to the nation Friday afternoon, Ruto conveyed condolences to families of all those who lost their lives during the anti-tax protests.
"To the many others who lost their lives, I sent my condolences to the family," he said.
"The government will support all those who have lost their lives, and all those who have been injured."
According to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, at least 41 people died and 361 were injured during the countrywide anti-Finance Bill protests.
The Commission said the data was recorded from June 18 to July 1, 2024.
KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede said postmortem for most of the victims is yet to be conducted.
The chairperson raised concern that demonstrations which started as peaceful on the first day turned chaotic on June 25.
"The demonstrations resulted in several deaths, injuries and property damage," she said.
KNCHR said the deceased victims are from Nairobi (17), Nakuru (3) Laikipia (1), Narok (1), Kajiado (3), Uasin Gishu (4) Kakamega (1) Kisumu (2), Kisii (1), Mombasa (3), Siaya (1), Kiambu (1) and Nandi (1).
During his engagement with the youth on X, Ruto reiterated that the protests, which were called to oppose proposed new taxes in the new financial year, were initially peaceful but got infiltrated by criminals.
