Two shot dead in Kenya election riots

At least five killed in violent clashes since the results of Tuesday’s vote were announced

Anti riot policemen deploy to disperse demonstrators supporting opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi (Reuters)

Kenyan police have shot two people dead and injured five more during rioting after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner in national elections.

The violence occurred in the western city of Kisumu on Lake Victoria, where opposition leader Raila Odinga has strong support.

The deaths were confirmed by regional police commander Leonard Katana, AP reports.

Police also opened fire in the capital, Nairobi, where opposition protesters had blocked roads and set up burning barricades.

The unrest follows a fiercely fought presidential election in which Mr Odinga has repeatedly claimed the vote was rigged.

Mr Kenyatta won a second term as president with 54.3 per cent of the vote to Mr Odinga’s 44.7 per cent and a margin of 1.4 million votes.

The Independent’s Catrina Stewart, who is in Nairobi, earlier reported that since Thursday night many areas of the capital have been on lockdown and are being patrolled by a heavy police presence.

Nairobi’s overcrowded Kibera area has been the focus of the unrest in the capital, where residents, many of whom belong to Mr Odinga’s Luo tribe, reported screaming and gunfire.

A photographer for the AP news service also reported seeing live rounds fired in the city’s Mathare area.

At least five people have been killed in violent clashes since the results of Tuesday’s vote were announced.

On Friday Mr Kenyatta urged opponents to set aside differences and work together.

To our brothers, our worthy competitors, we are not enemies,” he said.

“Elections come and go, Kenya is here to stay. There is no need for violence.”

Mr Odinga’s Nasa party has denounced the election as a “sham” and a “massive fraud”, fuelling fears of further unrest.