Amnesty International said on Thursday that no fewer than 16 people died in the previous day’s protests across Kenya as businesses and residents were left to clean up the devastation in the capital and beyond.
Many businesses in downtown Nairobi, the epicentre of the anti-government protests were destroyed alongside burned-out buildings, smashed windows, looted shops.
The demonstration marked one year since the anti-tax rally that left no fewer than 60 people dead and climaxed when a huge crowd stormed parliament.
The anniversary protests reportedly started peacefully Wednesday, but degenerated into chaos as young men held running battles with security forces, lit fires and ripped up flagstones to throw at police.
Speaking to reporters in downtown Nairobi, business owners said that looting had begun in the afternoon after the government ordered TV and radio stations to stop broadcasting live images of the protests.
According to the Director of Amnesty International in Kenya, Irungu Houghton, the death toll had risen to 16.
Earlier, a coalition of rights groups, who recorded protests in 23 counties around Kenya, said at least 400 people were injured, with 83 in serious condition in hospital.
Meanwhile, emergency responders had reported various and multiple gunshot wounds.
