Protest death toll climbs to 19 after police crackdown

KENYA'S under-fire government on Thursday condemned protests across the country during which at least 19 people were killed and thousands of businesses ruined as “terrorism disguised as dissent”.

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The marches on Wednesday were called to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax demonstrations that peaked when a huge crowd stormed parliament and dozens were killed by security forces. The rallies began peacefully but descended into chaos as young men held running battles with police, lit fires and ripped up pavements to use as projectiles.

“What unfolded yesterday was not a protest. It was terrorism disguised as dissent,” said Kipchumba Murkomen, interior cabinet secretary.

“We condemn the criminal anarchists who in the name of peaceful demonstrations unleashed a wave of violence, looting, sexual assault and destruction upon our people,” he said, calling events an “attempted coup”.

The UN meanwhile deplored the violence and called for calm and restraint. “We are deeply concerned by reports of several deaths of protesters and many more injuries — of protesters and police officers - during demonstrations in Kenya on Wednesday,” UN human rights office spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell said in a statement.