Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has accused demonstrators of attempting to overthrow the government following Wednesday’s deadly protests across the country. The statement has sparked backlash from protest leaders, who dismissed it as a diversion from their legitimate demands.

At least 10 people were confirmed dead by the government, while Amnesty Kenya put the toll at 16, attributing all fatalities to gunshot wounds allegedly caused by police. The protests, led largely by youth, were initially meant to commemorate last year’s anti-government rallies but grew in intensity after a blogger died in police custody earlier this month.

In Nairobi, the aftermath of the chaos was visible on Thursday, with smoke rising from multiple burned buildings and shopkeepers assessing the damage. Clashes also occurred near sensitive state buildings as demonstrators attempted to approach parliament and the president’s residence.

Murkomen’s remarks, labeling the unrest as an attempt at “regime change,” have intensified public debate, as critics warn against using heavy-handed tactics to silence dissent in a country grappling with political tensions and calls for reform.