Torched buildings were smouldering and shop owners were cleaning up the charred wreckage in central Nairobi on Thursday, after a night of looting and arson followed youth demonstrations in which rights group Amnesty Kenya said 16 people were killed.
Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Wednesday, to mark the anniversary of deadly Kenyan protests a year ago and to protest against the death this month of a blogger held in police custody over a complaint by a senior police official.
More than 60 people were killed in the 2024 demonstrations, led by youth who refer to themselves informally as Gen Z, against a proposed tax hike. This month has seen a number of demonstrations following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, found to have been beaten in jail.
Wednesdays protests saw police fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in Nairobi, with isolated clashes also breaking out in other towns. Reuters saw several protesters injured in clashes with police.
Amnesty Kenyas executive director Irungu Houghton told Reuters the 16 who were killed on Wednesday had all died of gunshot wounds, suspected to have been inflicted by police officers.