One man was killed and five more were injured - two of them policemen - in violence linked to attempts at blocking debate on the new Constitution yesterday.

The man was said by police to be among a group of 20 youths, who used the protests as a cover for looting in Nairobi city centre.

There were conflicting reports about how the man died. Witnesses claimed he was shot dead by police, but the police later said he had been beaten to death by angry bystanders who had caught him looting.

The man died in Tom Mboya Street, about two kilometres from the heart of the demonstration, which was centred on Harambee Avenue, near Parliament Buildings.

Three of the five who were injured were among protesters who taunted the police when they prevented them from marching on Parliament.

The two injured policemen were hit by the barrage of stones thrown by Kenya Polytechnic students, who joined the demonstration.

Ten people were arrested as the police and protesters fought running battles outside Parliament while inside the House debate on the new Constitution was marked by bitterness as a section of MPs made a determined attempt to scuttle the new law.

Inside Parliament, Internal Security minister John Michuki insisted no-one was shot dead by police.

But he defended the heavy security presence around Parliament, in spite of the Speaker commenting he had never asked for increased security.

Earlier in the afternoon, police battled protesters near the Treasury on Harambee Avenue though business in other parts of the city went on uninterrupted.

Demonstraters take to their heels after they were dispersed by police along City Hall Way in Nairobi yesterday. The protesters engaged police in running battles for the second day yesterday. Photo by Stephen Mudiari

But the battles later spilt over to Haile Selassie, Moi Avenue, City Hall Way and Tom Mboya street.

The confrontation was more brutal than that of Tuesday afternoon when only water jets and tear gas were used to disperse crowds. This time, police used batons to beat anyone who defied their orders to disperse peacefully.

At least two of the demonstrators were critically injured and were taken to hospital in police vehicles. Others fled, leaving behind placards that littered the streets.

Mr Morris Otieno of Chemi Chemi ya Ukweli was clobbered but he escaped the arrest. He was later treated for injuries.

The riots turned chaotic when the activists pelted the police with stones, prompting the officers to respond by firing tear gas canisters. Two journalists were hurt in the chaos.

The riots were however confined to a small section of Nairobi - Harambee Avenue, Haile Selassie, Moi Avenue and City Hall Way. The rest of the city was unaffected.

Crowds panicked and fled on seeing armed police on riot trucks patrolling the streets.

Blocking traffic

Trouble on the busy Haile Selassie Avenue started after 2pm when Kenya Polytechnic students joined the demonstration, blocking traffic and throwing stones. But police dispersed them with powerful water jets.

Some businesses at Cooperative House, which houses the Cooperative Bank and some Government ministries, were closed early as the rioters lit bonfires on roads and stopped the traffic.

A protester demonstrator is arrested near Kencom House, Nairobi, during yesterday's skirmishes with police. Photo by William Oeri

On Moi and Harambee Avenue, the protesters stoned cars, damaged street lights, broke windowpanes and looted shops.

At one point, Flying Squad officers drew their guns when the youths pelted them with stones.

But the rioters regrouped and took over City Hall Way, blocking traffic by pushing booths onto the roads. Police lobbed tear gas canisters at them, forcing them to flee towards Kencom bus stop, where they burnt a copy of the Kilifi draft.

The draft was passed by 113 MPs, who at the weekend met to ratify changes agreed on by the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution.

A group of about 20 youths led by Katiba Watch activist Koitamet ole Kina, National Convention Executive Council's Cyprian Nyamwamu and human rights lawyer Ng'ang'a Thiong'o engaged the police in a cat and mouse game from midday to late afternoon.

Police later closed Harambee Avenue and Parliament Road to keep the protesters away from the House.

Traffic was disrupted for hours in the afternoon as panicky motorists sped off.

Nairobi police boss King'ori Mwangi and city CID chief Francis Githui patrolled the streets as those arrested were taken to various police stations.

In Mombasa, some youths demonstrated while carrying banners which read: "We want the Bomas Draft Constitution only."

They marched on Jomo Kenyatta, Digo and Nkrumah roads and stopped at Treasury Square, where policemen stood watch.

A similar demonstration was blocked by police, who cordoned off Mulu Mutisya Gardens in Machakos Town, where a meeting had been planned.

Armed officers confronted 10 leaders of a group and told them to keep off the grounds as the meeting was not licensed.

Meanwhile, police headquarters last night confirmed the death of the man but said he had been killed in a fight between looters and members of the public responding to an alarm by stall owners at an exhibition hall after they were attacked by looters.

"As a result police found one person lying on the floor outside the shop bleeding profusely. He later succumbed to injuries and the body was removed to City Mortuary awaiting postmortem to determine cause of dea

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