At least five people are believed to be dead following a protest to demand the release of controversial Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheik Al-Faisal in Nairobi on Friday.
Kenyan police have put the death toll at two but independent sources including a private hospital where the injured were taken reported five deaths. Four civilians and a police officer are dead.
Business in Nairobi central business district came to a standstill after a demonstration organized by the Muslim Human Rights forum turned violent leading to massive looting and disorderly behavior.
The situation got out of hand after a group of youths joined the police in dispersing the protest. Three banks, First community, Giro bank and Dubai have been destroyed and looted as a mob joined the police in ejecting demonstrators in Nairobi’s Jamia Mosque.
On Saturday bodies of four Muslim youths who were killed on Friday were buried at Karikor Muslim cementary in Nairobi.
The demonstrators were demanding the release of the Jamaican cleric who was arrested in early January. Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua on Friday said the government would not release the cleric saying they will deport him despite a high court ruling that ordered the government to bring the cleric to court.