The fog of tear gas has lifted following the nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday. The shocking aftermath: 19 demonstrators dead and at least 500 injured, all by gunfire, according to Amnesty International.

Local journalists reported that police used not only tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters, but also live ammunition in many cases. There was also reportedly violence from individual demonstrators, with stores looted in the capital, Nairobi, and beyond.

The planned day of protest marked the first anniversary since people stormed parliament during anti-government demonstrations in 2024, when 60 people were killed.

The tough response by security forces and an emergency order by the the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) banning live coverage of the protests has heightened concerns about freedom of expression in the country. While judges immediately revoked the order, which referenced a section of the constitution that exempts incitement to violence from freedom of expression, the attempt has nonetheless been damaging.

Muthoki Mumo, who monitors the situation in sub-Saharan Africa from Nairobi for the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, believes the CA has been used as a political weapon.

"We can say from historical context, this government has not taken dissent well, has not responded well to the criticism in the form of thousands of young people who've taken to the streets at various points over the last year. And I see this order fitting into that," she told DW.

The CA issued a similar order in 2018 under........

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