At least two dead after overnight violent protests in Kenya

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At least two people were killed and several others injured in overnight violent protests that broke out across Kenya after Uhuru Kenyatta was officially declared the winner of the presidential election.

Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that current President Kenyatta garnered 8.2 million votes or 54.27 percent of the total votes against rival Raila Odinga's 6.76 million or 44.74 percent of the total votes, ending a protracted four-day standoff over the outcome of Tuesday's vote.

Violence breaks out

Police said Saturday that at least two people were confirmed dead in overnight riots in the counties of Maseno and Siaya in western Kenya.

In the capital Nairobi, two people were wounded by gunshots in Mathare slum. More security reinforcements have been sent to Kibera slum where protesters were confronting police as gunshots were heard overnight and ambulances were rushing on the roads.

Market stalls burn after protesters set them on fire following the announcement of the winner of polls in Kenya's election, in Garissa August 10, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Gunshots and screams of protests rent the air in the western Kenyan city of Kisumu and in Nairobi's residential estates where residents took to the streets to express their anger.

"I have just seen a lorry and a car barely miss being stoned. Stones put across the road and several gunshots were heard in Kibera slums," said a witness. He said there were consistent gunshots in some parts of Nairobi.

"There are several police officers who are firing live bullets against us. I don't know what we have done wrong since we are only expressing our anger against the electoral officials," Kennedy Omondi, a resident in Kisumu, said.

Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta reacts after he was announced winner of the presidential election at the IEBC National Tallying center at the Bomas of Kenya, in Nairobi, August 11, 2017. /Reuters Photo

As of Friday, at least seven people had been killed and several others injured since Tuesday in post-election violence in Kenya after opposition leader Odinga claimed "massive" fraud in Tuesday's vote.

'Hacking' in electoral system

Odinga had alleged that the electoral system was hacked and data manipulated in favor of the incumbent President Kenyatta.

The opposition coalition said Friday it was prepared to concede defeat after getting access to the servers containing the raw election results for verification and upon a review of its five-page document listing mistakes in the results which could alter the final tally.

"We are prepared to accept the results if they can open up the servers. We are quite sure the hacking of the servers took place between 12.27 p.m. on Aug. 8 until Aug. 9 at 2.30 am. If they can open the servers, we are prepared to accept the results," said lawyer James Orengo who represents the NASA.

A protester supporting opposition leader Raila Odinga lifts a stone during clashes with police in Kisumu, Kenya, August 11, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Tension remained high in some parts of Kenya on Friday night as residents vowed to carry out more protests as long as Odinga disputes results.

The police have stepped up security to prevent any possible violent protests and to provide round-the-clock security to ensure the safety of Kenyans and foreigners who are in the country.

Kenya witnessed violence in three of its four previous general elections. About 1,200 people were killed and 650,000 were displaced in the country after the results of the 2007 presidential elections were released.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency