NAIROBI: A 21-year-old man died after being hit by a tear gas canister during protests in Kenya this week, a human rights official and the victim’s relative said on Saturday, in the second fatality resulting from the youth-led demonstrations.

Led largely by Gen-Z Kenyans who have livestreamed the demonstrations against tax hikes, the protests have been galvanised by widespread anger over President William Ruto’s economic policies.

Thursday’s demonstrations in the capital Nairobi were mostly peaceful, but officers fired tear gas and water cannon throughout the day in an attempt to disperse protesters near parliament.

According to a Kenya Human Rights Comm­ission official, 21-year-old Evans Kiratu was “hit by a tear gas canister” during the demonstrations. “He was rushed to hospital around 6pm on Thursday...and died there,” Ernest Cornel, a spokesman at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, said.

“It is tragic that a young person can lose his life simply for agitating against the high cost of living.”

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2024