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A dozen killed in Kenya violence
28 January 2008
By Juno McEnroe, Naivasha, Kenya
MORE THAN a dozen people were reported killed after armed mobs
clashed with locals and police yesterday in the lake town of
Naivasha, north-west of Nairobi.
Residents fleeing with mattresses and belongings made their way to
nearby flower farms to seek refuge.
Violence erupted in the scenic region by mid-morning with the Red
Cross later confirming a number of killings and burnings of homes
and businesses.
The escalation of ethnic killings in the region follows two days
of conflict in the larger neighbouring town of Nakuru, where it is
thought that up to 40 people have died.
Ethnic clashes in Naivasha were last night blamed mainly on the
Kikuyus, followers of re-elected president Mwai Kibaki, who was
said to be seeking revenge for recent bloody attacks by Luos
tribesmen and others backing opposition leader, Raila Odinga.
Mr Odinga met former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan yesterday for
talks about quelling clashes across Kenya which observers estimate
have so far claimed nearly 800 lives. Mr Odinga claims last
month’s election was rigged.
Mr Annan, who is trying to broker a political solution to the
post-election violence, was told the leader’s Orange Democratic
Movement were committed to negotiating a settlement. But Mr Annan
said the violence had changed into inter-ethnic disorder which
threatens Kenya’s future.
On roads around Naivasha yesterday, packed crowds were seen moving
en masse. Police were not noticeable on roads circling the usually
quiet town.
Machette-wielding mobs were seen singling out and dragging
passengers from taxi buses. But police kept a low presence at road
blocks between Nairobi and Naivasha.
Local reports of hired criminal tribal gangs used to carry out
brutal attacks were not confirmed last night.
Kenya Red Cross spokesman Anthony Mwangi said the bloody clashes
in Naivasha were spilling over from the killings in Nakuru.
“There have been killings. There have also been burnings of houses
and businesses which furthers the magnitude of the situation,”
explained Mr Mwangi.
Reports by the Orange Democratic Movement that the attacks saw
possibly dozens of people burnt and killed in just one house alone
in Naivasha could not be independently verified last night.
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