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More police officers were injured than protestors during the youth-led demonstrations in the country, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has said.
According to the police boss, 495 injuries were recorded amongst police officers as compared to 347 injuries to civilians.
This translates to 48 more officers who were injured than the demonstrators during the month-long street battle that climaxed into the first ever invasion of Parliament on June 25, 2024.
"At least 1552 protestors were arrested and others captured on camera commuting offences were being pursued," Kanja told the National Assembly's Committee on Administration and Internal Security.
The police boss was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General in charge of the National Police Service Eliud Lagat and Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation John Onyango.
The IG also told the Committee chaired by Narok West Gabriel Tongoyo that 42 fatalities were recorded during the period.
Kanja also told the Committee that 57 cases of kidnappings and abductions were reported during the period.
He however denied any link to police officers terming the claims propaganda.
"National Police Service has since recorded a total of 57 cases of kidnappings and abductions that were reported countrywide from June 2024 to date," he said.
Kanja was appearing before the Tongoyo-led committee regarding kidnappings and abductions occurring within the country.
Kenya is witnessing an unprecedented wave of abductions and killings targeting various individuals.
The abductions and enforced disappearances have been linked to state security agents.
Human Rights Watch boss Otsieno Namwaya told the Star the number of those still missing could be hundreds.
He said his organisation has been investigating cases of missing persons, with those not yet found classified as enforced disappearance, resolved ones classified as arbitrary arrests and the deaths characterised as extrajudicial killings.
“We believe that up to 132 people or more are still missing from the protests. The state has used security agencies to silence families from coming forward,” Namwaya said.
