28 January 2008
Nairobi — Yesterday's killings in Naivasha have triggered a fresh wave of riots in several towns in western Kenya today.
Riots have been reported in Kisumu, Kakamega, Kapsabet, Gilgil, Migori, Busia and Eldoret as residents react to reports that the Sunday clashes in Naivasha targeted their communities.
The chaos broke as Police Commissioner Hussein Ali announced they will soon be charging some 28 people with murder for their roles in the post-election violence. The police chief, however, did not name those to be charged.
In Naivasha, 14 more bodies were found today bringing the toll to at least 28 killed.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Mr Gerishon Ikiara also reported that 13 long-haul trucks were set ablaze by mobs who had mounted roadblocks along various roads in Western Kenya.
In Kakamega, at least a shop and a residential house had been torched as protestors fought with riot police in the morning.
Business in Kisumu and Migori towns came to a standstill as youths lit fires and chanted in praise of the Orange Democratic Movement.
They used burning tyres and other barricades to block the Kisumu-Nakuru and Kisumu-Busia roads. Some mobs went to schools and ejected students from classes shouting "No Raila No school!".
Most civil servants in Kisumu were forced to run back to their houses for safety as the rowdy youths took over the streets.
In Migori, the police appeared overwhelmed by the hundreds of youths who pulled down sign posts along the main road in the town.
In Eldoret, youths blocked the main roads to protest the killings.
Additional reporting by the Kenya News Agency
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I have returned from Kenya only two weeks ago and I can hardly believe what is going on here. This does not seem to have anything to do with elections anymore and one could wonder if it ever really had. It seems that many people are very dissatisfied with their lives and the lack of creating possibilities to develop themselves, because mostly youngsters are involved without any sense of responsibility and without enough life experience to even oversee what they are doing. They should realize that all this leads to nothing but more violence and killings, revenge and hate. History… [Read Full Text]
DEAR SIR/MADAM, HAVING BEEN TO KENYA TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WITH IT'S PEACEFULNESS AND WONDERFUL SCENERY, I AM APPALLED AT WHAT IS NOW TRANSPIRING. THIS IS A SIMPLE CASE OF ELECTION FRAUD, AND UNTIL KIBAKI DECIDES THAT STEPPING DOWN WILL SAVE KENYA FROM ANOTHER PERHAPS RAWANDA, THIS VIOLENCE I AM AFRAID WILL CONTINUE. IT IS AMAZING HOW BOTH POWER AND MONEY CAN INDEED CORRUPT. ONE JUST HAS TO LOOK AT WHERE ZIMBABWE IS AT WITH ROBERT MUGABE IN POWER. GOD HELP KENYA.
I have been telling kenyans this and i will repeat again. We all watched as Kukuyus were being killed in the Rift Valley and some even rejoiced including some of you who are writing in these blogs. What we all forgot was that violence is not like a bomb which you control where to hit and where to damage. Now that it is getting out hand we are all quick to say its Kibaki, its Raila and all our nonsense partisan arguments. Now let me give you the bad news those who are living in kenya "the war is coming… [Read Full Text]
naivasha ni ya watu wote, kisumu ni ya wote nyeri ni ya wote nairobi ni ya wote. kiramutu anahaki ya kuishi pahari popote bira kujari au kuongopa kichijwo ni mogiki au mutuyeyote serikari ni ya wote hapana ya wagekoyo pekeyetu, kura nakuripa rakini hapa iba kura narete balla kwa bichara yetu yote , hii mutu ya nyere narete taabu nyige mno
Mr. Lucas Onchiri, please do not blame the bloodshed and chaos on His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki. ECK is the only body in Kenya mandated to announce election results...not ODM, not KTN, not PNU, not Citizen TV. Our laws, passed by our very own parliament provide avenues of how electoral disputes / differences should be resolved. Calling youths to the streets to loot and destroy property and sending militia to evict kikuyus from Rift Valley is NOT among the avenues provided by the law. This is the avenue ODM have chosen. If they refuse to abide by the law now,… [Read Full Text]
i want the world to understand that raila and his henchmen do not have monopoly on violence!when kikuyus were being killed and burned in eldoret,the papetrators like mr ruto were silent.its said that ruto was paying 2000 for a house burned.when the tide changed they all can shout genocide.if today raila and ruto wanted this to stop,it would take just one word from them.But no,they have to take full millage and political gain from this,so kenyans lets go on killing each other!
I'm also an african (Namibian) but never been to Kenya, hoping one day. I am upset and amazed by most of correspondence who many are Kenians. Were are your responsibility, your accountability as a citizen. Why do you as a Kenians have to wait for politicians to take action, what about you knowing between right and wrong or atleast what is right for your country or your people. Don't take me wrong my feelings goes to all Africans including my country Namibia. Do you have to kill your neighbour because Raila or Ruto is a self enrichment power hungry animal… [Read Full Text]
FORGIVENESS, TOLERANCE, AND HEALING FOR OUR NATION January 29, 08 One person in the commentaries said, “All Kenyans have a right to own property in any place of their Kenyan country”. That’s the most honest thing I have heard so far. However, I still maintain that the root of the problem we are facing was ignited by the wrong decision taken by some leaders to campaign with anti-Kikuyu sentiments. It is sad that many people aspiring to the position of leadership in Africa fail to realize that leadership comes with accountability- the higher the rank,… [Read Full Text]