Hello and welcome to NewsHour live from the BBC World Service in London. I'm Rebecca Kesb.

A political row has erupted in Kenya following comments made by the President William Ruto in which he told police officers to shoot protesters targeting businesses in the legs.

We'll hear the full comments in a moment.

But they come after a week of violent street protests against his government.

Protesters angry at the poverty in the country, the lack of employment opportunities

and perceived government corruption have continued to take to the streets

and have been met by force by the Kenyan authorities.

Well, 31 people were killed on Monday, at least 100 injured and more than 500 arrested after clashes.

That's according to the Kenyan Human Rights Commission.

The Kenyan police issue different figures,

saying that only 11 people had been killed.

But there have been multiple allegations from protesters

of police brutality and excessive force.

Anne Nairwira told journalists her son

was trying to avoid the unrest when he was

shot dead. We'd spoken that morning and he told me, I'll stay inside. I won't go to the protests.

Because I'd asked where he was. He even told me he'd just stay at home. He said, listen, there's not

even any noise where I am. Then he was

shot on his way from his house to mine. But President Ruto has defended the police handling

of this situation and told a crowd of supporters in Nairobi today that the crackdown on violent

protesters would continue.

We are going to use whatever means that is available to make sure that we stabilise the country.

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