UN chief calls for calm after violence erupts following Kenyan election

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called on Kenyan opposition leaders to address their disputes over the presidential election through legal means instead of violence.

The UN chief took note of the provisional results of Tuesday's presidential election in Kenya and of the electoral authorities' announcement of incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta as president-elect, a statement said.

Guterres called on the political leaders to send clear messages to their supporters, urging them to refrain from violence. He also stressed the importance of dialogue to defuse tensions.

The United Nations, together with the African Union and other partners, is fully engaged with Kenya's political leadership and relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful conclusion of the electoral process, it added.

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga run away from police during clashes in Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, August 12, 2017. /Reuters Photo

State-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said 24 people have been killed across the country from police brutality since August 8.

Chairperson Kagwiria Mbogori said on Saturday Nairobi accounts for the highest number of casualties with 17 deaths that occurred mainly after the announcement of presidential election results on Friday night.

However, Kenyan opposition coalition said Saturday over 100 people had been killed by police responding to protests, which erupted on Friday night after the final results were revealed.

The National Super Alliance (NASA) Legal Counsel, James Orengo, told reporters in Nairobi the post-election violence deaths followed a shoot-to-kill order by senior government officials.

"At least 100 people have been killed, 10 of them children," Orengo told reporters during a news conference called by the coalition's leaders to brief supporters on the ongoing political crisis.

People help an injured protester supporting opposition leader Raila Odinga in Mathare, Nairobi of Kenya, August 12, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Meanwhile, the opposition leaders said they would hold the interior minister and the police Inspector-General personally responsible for the acts of the officers, who were accused of using live ammunition and excessive force under their command.

"The violence being meted out on these defenseless citizens in their residential neighborhoods is intended to subjugate the will of the people and NASA into submission. We will not be cowed. We will not relent," said Orengo.

The acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i denied the accusations, saying police used equal force to respond to looters.

Some opposition lawmakers elected during the August 8 polls said the rapid violent crackdown on the peaceful protesters of the election results appeared well-organized and were not carried out by police.

"We have no evidence of pre-planning and coordination. We are not aware. It does not exist," Matiang'i said.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency