The United Nations Human Rights Office has urged local authorities to avoid using lethal force to disperse anti-government protests in the country.

In a statement issued on Friday, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence stated that the organization is '' very concerned by the widespread violence and allegations of excessive or disproportionate use of force, including the use of weapons, by police during the Azimio-led rallies'.

PHOTO | COURTESY Protesters

 Laurence said up to 23 people have been killed, and dozens have been injured in the demonstrations over the last week.

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Jeremy Laurence said that In light of calls for further protests next week urging the authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly guaranteed by the Kenyan Constitution and international human rights law.

Laurence also asked for prompt investigations into reported deaths and injuries nationwide. He added that Those who are responsible must be held accountable and Effective measures must be implemented to prevent further deaths and injuries.

He added that Protest policing must aim to facilitate peaceful assemblies, and any use of force must adhere to the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination. Protests should never be dispersed with firearms.

PHOTO | COURTESY United Nations

Kenya's Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva has responded to a statement published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on anti-government protests.

On Sunday, the Kenyan permanent mission rebutted OHCHR's statement, claiming the protest was misrepresented and uninformed.

"While the Permanent Mission shares the OHCHR's concern for human rights, it is compelled to object to the characterization of recent events in Kenya as "peaceful protests." "Such a designation belies the widely and credibly documented ground reality," Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'oei said in a statement.

PHOTO | COURTESY Azimio supporters

On Sunday, the Kenyan permanent mission rebutted OHCHR's statement, claiming the protest was misrepresented and uninformed.

"While the Permanent Mission shares the OHCHR's concern for human rights, it is compelled to object to the characterization of recent events in Kenya as "peaceful protests." "Such a designation belies the widely and credibly documented ground reality," Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'oei said in a statement.