Marches in Kenya to mark a year since a massive anti-government demonstration turned violent on Wednesday, resulted in the death of two and hundreds injured as protesters held running battles with police, who flooded Nairobi’s streets with tear gas. They also sealed off government buildings with barbed wire.
At least 60 people were killed last year by security forces in weeks of protests over tax rises and the dire economic situation for young Kenyans, peaking when a huge crowd stormed parliament on June 25.
Thousands gathered in central Nairobi and other towns on Wednesday, including the families of last year’s victims, for initially peaceful anniversary marches.
They soon descended into chaos as scattered groups ripped up flagstones to throw projectiles at security forces.
Two people were shot and killed in the town of Matuu, around 100 kilometres (65 miles) from the capital, a hospital official said, with local media reporting that police had fired on protesters.
Emergency medics dealt with at least 300 injured people in Nairobi, including 67 in critical condition, an official with a multi-agency response team told journalists.
By late afternoon, local media showed huge crowds trying to reach the business district with police holding them off with roadblocks.
Media ordered to stop live coverage
The Kenyan government on Wednesday ordered TV and radio stations to immediately stop broadcasting the protests.
The Communications Authority of Kenya said live coverage of the protests was in breach of constitutional rules.
“This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith,” it said in a statement.
There was outrage online over the live broadcast ban.
Most Kenyan media appeared to be continuing with live coverage despite the order.
The Standard Group, which runs TV, radio and a newspaper, said in a statement that it was an attempted “news blackout” and that it would continue broadcasting.
