President William Ruto has ignited controversy with his assertion that the 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who was fatally shot in Ong’ata Rongai on June 27, was killed by a civilian who allegedly stole a gun from a police officer.
Kennedy Onyango was reportedly shot multiple times during the anti-Finance Bill protests.
President Ruto's statement insists that the fatal shots were fired by a civilian, despite widespread public dissent and criticism on social media platforms like X.
Investigations into the Ong’ata Rongai incident suggest that protesters managed to overpower a police officer and seize his firearm.
President Ruto’s version of events, however, diverges from these reports. “Kennedy Onyango was shot by a criminal who grabbed a firearm from a police officer and started shooting indiscriminately,” Ruto stated firmly.
Attempts by the President to reach Onyango’s mother, Jessica Onyango, have reportedly been unsuccessful. Ruto mentioned that he left a message for her and plans to continue efforts to contact her.
The shooting of Kennedy Onyango occurred amid the widespread anti-Finance Bill protests in Rongai, Kajiado County. During his inaugural X Space session with the youth, Ruto reaffirmed his claim and promised government support for the affected families. "To those who lost their lives, I extend my condolences. The government will support all the victims and their families," Ruto said.
The Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) has reported that at least 41 people died and 361 were injured in the protests, which lasted from June 18 to July 1, 2024.
KNHRC Chairperson Roseline Odede noted that many postmortems are still pending and expressed concern over the escalation of the protests from peaceful demonstrations to violent clashes.
"The demonstrations, initially peaceful, turned chaotic, leading to numerous deaths, injuries, and property damage,” Odede stated. The casualties included individuals from various regions, such as Nairobi, Nakuru, and Kajiado.