Aug. 12 (UPI) — Violent protests have erupted across Kenya following the reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday. Some have turned deadly.
As many as 24 people have been reported dead — the result of violent demonstrations and clashes with police after the election results were released.
At least six people were killed after clashes with police in the slum of Kibera, where people had previously threatened protests if Kenyatta defeated his opponent Raila Odinga.
Residents in Mathare said a 6-year-old girl was struck by a stray bullet and killed while standing on the balcony of her house.
“The police were shooting in the air to disperse the crowds,” Mathare resident Boniface Okoth told the Washington Post. “The child came to the balcony to check what was going on. She was shot and died on the spot.”
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i denied reports that police used excessive force to control the various protests throughout the country, claiming false information is being spread through social media.
“There has been an increase in a number of false and inflammatory messages being spread on social media platforms, we have laws that govern against abuse of social media and the Government will not hesitate to take action against culprits,” he said, according to the Standard.
Matiang’i maintained the country was calm with the exception of Mathare, Kibera and Kisumu and said authorities were working to restore peace.
“The Government will stop at nothing short of protecting the lives of Kenyans and their property and [we] warn any person that may have criminal intent that they will face the full force of the law,” he said.
Kenyatta won his second term with 54.3 percent of the vote over Odinga, who did not immediately accept the results of the election and concede.
