Mike Mwaniki
29 January 2008
Twenty-four people will soon appear in court over the ongoing killings across the country.
Police commissioner Hussein Ali said Monday that files of the suspects had been forwarded to the Attorney-General's office after his officers completed investigations.
However, Maj-Gen Ali declined to provide their identity saying "it would be premature" to release such information on suspects before they are charged.
More than 600 people have been killed, thousands displaced and property worth millions of shillings destroyed after announcement of the presidential poll results.
On Sunday, four MPs from central Kenya - Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini), Peter Munya (Tigania East), Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu) and Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri) - accused some of their ODM counterparts of "orchestrating" the violence and called for their arrest.
The MPs cited a recent Human Rights Watch report whose investigations showed that violence in the Rift Valley was planned before the polls. Addressing a press conference at Nairobi's Jacaranda Hotel, the MPs also accused the Government of doing little to stem the killings and destruction of property.
But speaking during a church service in Eldoret, ODM Pentagon member William Ruto said the violence was not premeditated.
Mr Ruto also warned that those who participated in poll rigging that their days were numbered.
Yesterday, Maj-Gen Ali said police were investigating 1,777 cases of people suspected to have either fuelled or participated in the violence, which has rocked various parts of the country following the disputed post-election results.
"Following the violence that has rocked Naivasha town in the past two days, police have arrested 159 suspects who were found armed.
"At the same time, my officers arrested 95 suspects in Nairobi following a raid carried out in various estates on Sunday night," Mr Ali told journalists during a press conference held at the police headquarters' Vigilance House in Nairobi.
Fielding questions from journalists, the police commissioner said the ban on holding of mass rallies by political parties would still remain.
"Although the freedom of association is a fundamental right, which is enshrined in our Constitution, police decided to enforce the ban after people who attended earlier rallies engaged in looting and acts of hooliganism,".
On security, Maj-Gen Ali assured the hundreds of displaced people that the Government would provide them with adequate protection after they are repatriated to their homes by constructing additional police posts in affected areas.
Police have been accused of using live bullets while dispersing protesters at ODM-convened mass action rallies.
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