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Kenyan Police made good their threat to use force against protesters, with two shot dead in continuing demonstrations by the opposition over electoral reforms.
The Star reported Monday that the two were killed in the lakeside town of Kisumu which borders Lake Victoria after Police used live bullets to try disperse the protests.
Photos on social media showed the bodies of the two lying on the streets.
News24’s Victor Tinto reported that witnesses said that one dead man was shot on the chest along Oginga Oginga street while another died in Kondele.
Police refused to comment on the matter.
The protests, which are seeking the removal of commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commision IEBC, which is mandated to conduct elections in Kenya continued Monday after a week’s break to pave way for negotiations with the government which have failed to kick off.
As a result, Police had warned protesters that they would not hesitate to use excessive force to repel the protests which they said were illegal, The Daily Nationreported.
However, a court order earlier Monday had granted the opposition supporters the leeway to protest, as long as they were peaceful and mindful of others.
The Star reported that Justice Joseph Onguto noted in a ruling that police are obliged to ensure law and order is maintained.
Prior to Monday’s deaths, three people had already been killed in the protests and scores injured, with opposition chiefs saying they would continue with the protests until the reforms to the IEBC are made.
