Kenyan election: Two killed and clashes in Nairobi as President Uhuru Kenyatta re-elected

  • Video report by ITV News Africa Correspondent John Ray

Kenyan police have shot and killed two people during protests by opposition supporters after President Uhuru Kenyatta won a second term in the country's general election.

The two police shootings occurred on the outskirts of Kisumu, a city where opposition leader Raila Odinga has strong support, according to Leonard Katana, a regional police commander.

Another five people were injured by gunfire in Kisumu, Mr Katana said.

The capital Nairobi meanwhile was hit by violent clashes after opposition supporters refused to accept the election results.

Buildings were set alight and armed riot police sent in to neighbourhoods on Friday night as discontent grew over Mr Kenyatta's re-election.

The incumbent president was officially named the winner of the closely-fought race, but Mr Odinga claimed the ballot was tainted by cheating.

Immediately the results were declared there were reports of rioting and gunshots in several areas which backed Mr Odinga and hundreds of police in anti-riot gear were deployed.

The clashes came after Kenyatta said in his acceptance speech that there was no need for violence as he called for Kenyans to come together as he celebrated wining his second term.

Protests had erupted in the days before the result was announced, with fears they could continue to be swelled by anger among those who dispute the result..

Some opposition figures have condemned the election as a "charade".

Leading opposition figure Mr Odinga, who stood against Mr Kenyatta for President, has fanned resentments and distrust with claims that voting machines were hacked and ballots manipulated.

More than 1,000 people died in violence fuelled by ethnic tensions after Mr Odinga lost the 2007 election.

Supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta celebrate after hearing the results. Credit: AP

Mr Odinga also lost the 2013 election to Mr Kenyatta. He took claims of vote-rigging to the Supreme Court, which rejected his case.

Kenyan opposition official James Orengo said today that returning to court was "not an alternative" if Mr Odinga was not elected.

The US ambassador to Kenya Robert F. Godec had urged citizens not to disrupt the work of election officials in the hours before the result was announced.

"Violence must never be an option," he added.

"No Kenyan should die because of an election. Kenya's future is more important than any election. Leaders above all need to make that clear."