Kenya's Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen accused protesters on Thursday of attempting to overthrow the government during a day of deadly demonstrations, remarks that protest leaders said were an attempt to deflect attention from their demands.

Sixteen people have been killed and about 400 injured after thousands of people took to the streets in Kenya on Wednesday to protest against the government, Amnesty International Kenya has said.

At least eight Kenyans died and more than 80 others were receiving specialized treatment Wednesday, with some suffering gunshot wounds, during countrywide protests against police brutality and poor governance,