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Poll violence death toll at 510,
say police
Story by DOMINIC WABALA
Publication Date: 1/19/2008
Police Friday gave the death toll from three weeks of violence
over the disputed presidential elections at 510 people.
Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said 87 of those had died during
“police intervention, but not necessarily shot by police”.
Mr Kiraithe said that 70 per cent of the deaths, translating into
356 people, occurred in Rift Valley. Three hundred people have
been prosecuted in post-election violence related offences while
621 properties were destroyed.
Fifty four people lost their lives in Western province, 51 in
Nairobi, 39 in Nyanza and 10 in Coast Province.
The Police Spokesman said that one woman died of bullet injuries
in Kisumu’s Bandari area after a mob blocked the highway and
attempted to set ablaze 47 oil tankers destined for Uganda.
Although one man was killed by a stray bullet in Kakamega during
the protests, Mr Kiraithe said investigations had revealed that
none of the weapons carried by the officers had fired the fatal
bullet.
He also said four deaths had been reported in Kariobangi after
police intervention, but quickly added that not all deaths could
be attributed to the police.
Rubber bullets
Police also claimed that one of the men killed in Kariobangi was
carrying 10 grams of an explosive material and a detonator.
Short of admitting lack of essential equipment, Mr Kiraithe said
police were using limited resources to maintain law and order,
“Police are trying to enhance the use of rubber bullets, but
currently we are using whatever resources we have.”
He denied allegations that police were supporting a political
agenda, saying “everything is being done to ensure police enforce
the law with impartiality”.
Mr Kiraithe said that investigations into the alleged brutal
killing of a man by an officer in Kisumu had been initiated though
the officer had not been sacked.
Meanwhile, three foreigners have been arrested on suspicion of
involvement in terror activities in the country.
The two Germans and a Dutch were arrested on Thursday night as
they prepared to jet out of the country.
The three, who police named as Andrej Hermlin-Leder, Gerd Uwe and
Fleur Van Dissel, a Dutch passport holder, allegedly entered the
country as journalists but “have been conducting themselves in a
suspicious manner”.
Mr Kiraithe said the three had pictures and sketches of strategic
installations in the country.
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