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Kenyan protests against Kenyatta election victory turn deadly Kenya election: death toll rises as protests continue
(about 5 hours later)
At least two people have been shot dead in Kenya during protests by opposition supporters against the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta, officials said. Kenya’s post-election violence worsened on Saturday as police used tear gas on a convoy of opposition officials in the capital and a mortuary official said nine bodies with gunshot wounds were brought to a Nairobi morgue from a slum that is an opposition stronghold.
“We have one person killed and four others admitted in hospital with gunshot injuries,” said Dr Ojwang Lusi, the regional health chief in western Kisumu county. At least 24 people have been killed by police gunfire since Tuesday’s election, said the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, which monitors government institutions. It appealed to senior officials to urge police to stop using live ammunition against civilians.
In the south-western town of Siaya, a police officer said a man had been shot dead in protests, but “we have not managed to collect the body … because of resistance from protesters”. As rioting continued the day after President Uhuru Kenyatta won a second term in a vote the opposition claims had been rigged, a father said his nine-year-old daughter was killed by a stray bullet on their third-floor balcony in Mathare.
A girl also died after being hit by a stray bullet while standing on a balcony as police were firing sporadic shots, a witness told Reuters. Kenyan police shot and killed two people during riots by opposition supporters on the outskirts of Kisumu, a city where opposition leader Raila Odinga has strong support, according to police. Another five people were injured by gunfire in Kisumu.
Protests flared in opposition strongholds in Nairobi and Kisumu after the election commission declared Kenyatta the victor in a hotly disputed vote. Supporters of his rival, Raila Odinga, claim the vote was rigged. The government should stop “the random killing of our people”, Odinga’s brother, Oburu Odinga, said. The government accused “criminals” of taking advantage of the tense election period to loot and destroy property.
After late-night looting and riots, anger remained high on Saturday morning, with running battles in the Mathare and Kibera slums of the capital. In Nairobi slums loyal to Odinga, police opened fire to disperse protesters who blocked roads and set up burning barricades. Associated Press photographers saw police charging demonstrators and firing live rounds and tear gas in the Mathare area.A mortuary official said nine bodies with gunshot wounds were brought to the Nairobi morgue from Mathare.
Protesters, some with rocks or sticks, ran for cover as they came under fire in another Nairobi slum, Kibera. One person was shot and killed in Kibera overnight, said Sam Ochieng, a former chairman for Odinga’s party there.
An Associated Press photographer said police used tear gas on a large convoy of vehicles carrying opposition officials that tried to enter Kibera. Police also fired guns into the air.
Most of the country of 47 million people remained calm the day after the election commission announced that Kenyatta, whose father was Kenya’s first president after independence from British colonial rule, had won a second five-year term.
There were also pro-Kenyatta celebrations, although a senior traffic police officer said four people were killed when they were hit by vehicles while marking his victory.There were also pro-Kenyatta celebrations, although a senior traffic police officer said four people were killed when they were hit by vehicles while marking his victory.
After an acrimonious campaign, Kenyatta used his re-election speech to reach out to Odinga and his supporters on Friday night, saying he wanted to work with them “in the service of Kenya”.After an acrimonious campaign, Kenyatta used his re-election speech to reach out to Odinga and his supporters on Friday night, saying he wanted to work with them “in the service of Kenya”.
The 55-year-old, who has been in power since 2013, called on his compatriots to “remember that we are brothers and sisters” and to shun division.The 55-year-old, who has been in power since 2013, called on his compatriots to “remember that we are brothers and sisters” and to shun division.
In recent days, opposition officials have described the election results as a fraud and claimed that Odinga, the 72-year-old Nasa leader, was the legitimate winner.In recent days, opposition officials have described the election results as a fraud and claimed that Odinga, the 72-year-old Nasa leader, was the legitimate winner.
Kenyans had endured a tense three-day wait while a definitive count was done of the ballots from more than 40,000 polling stations.Kenyans had endured a tense three-day wait while a definitive count was done of the ballots from more than 40,000 polling stations.
In 2007, Odinga’s claims of vote rigging prompted rioting and retaliation by security forces, which tipped the country into its worst crisis for decades with about 1,200 people killed. In 2007, Odinga’s claims of vote-rigging prompted rioting and retaliation by security forces, which tipped the country into its worst crisis for decades, with about 1,200 people killed.
A series of election observers and western officials have advised the losers in this year’s election to accept defeat. John Kerry, the former US secretary of state, called on political candidates and parties to stay within the law to resolve any disputes.A series of election observers and western officials have advised the losers in this year’s election to accept defeat. John Kerry, the former US secretary of state, called on political candidates and parties to stay within the law to resolve any disputes.
“The judicial process, the judicial system of Kenya and the election laws themselves make full and adequate provision for accountability in this election,” said Kerry, an election observer for the Carter Center. “The streets do not.”“The judicial process, the judicial system of Kenya and the election laws themselves make full and adequate provision for accountability in this election,” said Kerry, an election observer for the Carter Center. “The streets do not.”
Opposition politicians accused the observers of “rushing to judgment” and colluding with the government.Opposition politicians accused the observers of “rushing to judgment” and colluding with the government.
On Saturday Kenya’s main poll monitoring organisation, ELOG, said it had found no evidence to suggest this week’s election had been manipulated or that the result was inaccurate. On Saturday Kenya’s main poll monitoring organisation, Elections Observation Group (ELOG), said it had found no evidence to suggest this week’s election had been manipulated or that the result was inaccurate.
ELOG’s parallel vote tally projected a victory for Kenyatta with 54% of ballots cast, compared to an official count of 54.3%. This was well within its 1.9% margin of error, the group said.ELOG’s parallel vote tally projected a victory for Kenyatta with 54% of ballots cast, compared to an official count of 54.3%. This was well within its 1.9% margin of error, the group said.