On Wednesday, demonstrations against the government were held around Kenya. They were held on the anniversary of large protests last year, which claimed around 60 lives.
Wednesday's demonstrations began peacefully, but turned into pure street fights between protesters and police. The police used, among other things, tear gas and rubber bullets.
In the capital Nairobi's business district, numerous shops were looted and destroyed.
At least 16 dead
Several shop owners tell AFP that the looting began in the afternoon after the government ordered TV and radio stations to stop live broadcasting the protests.
According to Amnesty International, at least 16 people were killed. Local human rights organizations report that at least 400 were injured, of which around 80 are seriously injured. According to rescue workers, many of them were shot.
We condemn the excessive use of violence. We believe that the police could have been more restrained, says Hussein Khalid from the human rights organization Vocal Africa.
"Very disturbing"
Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for the UN human rights organization OHCHR, says that the reports of deaths and gunshot wounds are "very disturbing".
In a statement, she says that deadly violence from police should only be "used when it is absolutely necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury from an imminent threat”.
Throssell calls for swift investigations "to bring those responsible to justice".
Kenya's Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen condemns the demonstrations against the government. He says in a televised speech that what happened was not a protest, but rather "terrorism".
