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.

Kenya's interior minister has denied that the police used excessive force during Wednesday's protests in which at least 10 people were killed, describing them as "terrorism disguised as dissent" and an "unconstitutional attempt" to change the government.

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.