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Kenya violence becomes 'more
organised'
Telegraph, UK
By Mike Pflanz in Nairobi
Last Updated: 1:01pm GMT 28/01/2008
Kenya was experiencing a "sinister step change" in violence,
Britain's minister for Africa has warned, as it emerged that
dozens of people had been killed in tribal bloodletting over the
weekend.
Mark Malloch Brown said in the capital, Nairobi, that the violence
had turned from spontaneous to "something more organised".
His warning came as machete-armed mobs rampaged through towns in
the Rift Valley, burning shops and homes and setting up road
blocks.
"We are greatly concerned at what we see as a step change in the
violence from something bloody and ugly but perhaps spontaneous to
something much more organised and sinister," he said.
"What is so alarming about the last few days is that there are
evidently hidden hands organising this now. Militias are appearing,
street gangs are being organised."
More than 800 people have died and 250,000 been forced from their
homes since clashes broke out after presidential election results
a month ago handed Mwai Kibaki a win over his challenger, Raila
Odinga, amid claims of widespread vote rigging.
Lord Malloch Brown met both President Kibaki and Mr Odinga, but
expressed pessimism that they could agree on an urgent solution to
the crisis.
"I felt that they were talking about two different crises, with a
different view of the facts and differing scenarios about what
must happen and what needs to be done."
The pretty lakeside town of Naivasha, where 22 people died
overnight, was again the focus of anger between tribes as police
struggled to keep them apart. "There are boys everywhere armed and
shouting, they are ready to kill again," said Charles Njoroge, a
mechanic hiding in his shuttered-up shop in Naivasha.
"We cannot move, there are people who will protect us, but there
are others who want to kill us. It is chaotic."
Militia from the Kikuyu tribe, which has borne the brunt of anger
from Luos and Kalenjins since December's disputed election, are
reported to have arrived in Naivasha and Nakuru overnight.
In retaliation, Kalenjin fighters have re-erected roadblocks
further west around Eldoret looking for Kikuyus.
Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary general, is desperately trying
to bring the two sides together. There was some hope of a roadmap
forward at the weekend as agendas for talks were drawn up and both
sides asked to form dialogue teams.
Lord Malloch Brown said that Britain would not pursue "confrontational"
methods to bring Kenya's leaders to talks, but he did not rule out
withdrawing aid in the future.
"We are still relying on persuasion," he said, adding that Britain
was supporting Mr Annan's efforts.
Kenya's economy is likely to be hit a "body-blow" by the latest
fighting, he said.
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