Three people were shot dead and several others injured in battles between police and gangs in Nairobi's Kibera slums yesterday.

Among the injured were four people who had gunshot wounds and were admitted to hospital in critical condition.

Others who were also treated at various city hospitals had deep cuts or were injured after being hit with stones during the fighting that continued for about six hours.

Although police said that only two people were shot dead in the day-long chaos, the Nation confirmed that three people died of gunshot wounds.

One of the dead was identified as 18-year-old Elvis Omondi, who sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) last year. He was shot near the railway line.

Another victim, who was not immediately identified, had his skull shattered by a bullet.

The third person died at Masaba Hospital last evening. A bullet had ripped through his stomach.

Nairobi police boss Njue Njagi said the two were shot in the head and stomach, adding that some of the protesters had firearms.

At one point, the Nation spotted a man in the crowd firing at a group of police officers, forcing them to take cover.

Visited the area

Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga, who later visited the area, described the violence as "State-sponsored terrorism".

He accused a Cabinet minister of complicity in the violence and urged the residents to remain calm.

During the battles, police fired in the air several times and threw tear gas canisters as the rioting crowds hurled stones at them.

The police had moved into the slum to quell a standoff between two groups over a political rally that had been planned in the area.

Trouble started at around 8am at an open ground at the Laini Saba area, the venue of the planned rally.

The rally had been called by former Mungiki leader Ndura Waruinge, who wants to contest the Lang'ata seat.

Stormed the ground

A gang opposed to the rally had stormed the ground, forcing those who had gathered to flee.

As tension built up, a lorry-load of police in riot gear arrived, and the officers secured the grounds and forced the protesters to keep off.

Even with police presence at the grounds, people who were suspected to have supported the rally were beaten with sticks and clubs.

The police did not charge at the protesting crowds until contingents of General Service Unit (GSU) personnel and Administration Police arrived.

Mr Njagi said the officers went there to ensure the political rally did not take place because it had not been authorised.

"The purpose was to disperse the crowd that had gathered because the meeting had not been licensed," he said. No police officers were injured during the fights and at least 21 people were arrested.

At the venue, organisers had fitted the public address system and erected a temporary dais, which was brought down by the police.

Technicians from the Nairobi Projectors Services, the company which had provided the services, had to be shielded by police from the protesters who threatened to lynch them.

An attempt to set the company's vehicles on fire was thwarted by police. However, the driver escaped narrowly after the vehicle's windscreen was shattered by a stone.

Battery removed

The other vehicle mounted with a generator had its battery removed.

Mr Waruinge who was expected to address the rally did not set foot on the grounds, but later talked to journalists and vowed to convene another rally in the area whether police authorised it or not.

During the afternoon, the fighting had spread to another open ground, popularly referred to as Kamukunji by residents in Gatuekera area.

Mr Odinga later visited the injured at Masaba Hospital where he accused a Cabinet minister of being the brain behind the Kibera violence.

He said the minister was working with Mr Waruinge to cause fear and despondency in the area and scare away the people ahead of next year's elections.

Mr Odinga urged the residents to stop violence, promising to take up the matter on their behalf.

Tension remained high in the slums last evening with heavy police presence.

At Masaba hospital, Dr Otieno Sorein, who attended to the patients confirmed that one was in critical condition and would undergo specialised treatment.

Difficult time

Personnel at the hospital had a difficult time attending to the victims who started streaming in at around 2pm and guards had to step in to assist in carrying in the injured.

Among the patients was Mr Charles Omondi who had a bullet lodged on his left buttock and several deep cuts on his left hand.

Another casualty, Mr Caleb Ouma, sustained deep cuts on his head and arms while the third one, who was only identified as George, also had a bullet lodged in his buttock.

He also suffered deep cuts on his left arm and was bleeding profusely in the lower abdomen.

Friends and relatives thronged the hospital to check the conditions of their loved ones.

Kasarani MP William Omondi arrived at the hospital accompanied by councillor Opete Opete of Sarang'ombe ward in Kibera and condemned the violence.

The hospital appealed for urgent blood donation.

Additional reporting by Kamore Maina and Chris Ojow