Many Kenyans interpreted the gesture as double standards, pointing out that Mudavadi had not made any public statement on the death of at least 31 Kenyan citizens during the recent anti-police brutality protests.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has officially confirmed 31 people died during the Saba Saba Day protests on 7 July 2025, one of the deadliest incidents linked to demonstrations in recent history.