Kenya protests enter 2nd day

2008-01-17 08:12

Nairobi - Kenya was braced for more violence on Thursday as opposition protesters try to stage a second day of nationwide protests against President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election despite a police crackdown.

Kenyan police fired teargas and live bullets on protesters on Wednesday, killing two and wounding several others, in the latest post-election violence that had claimed more than 700 lives and forced over a quarter of a million people from their homes.

The worst violence on Wednesday took place in the western opposition stronghold of Kisumu, the country's third city, after riot police clashed with supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

"One man was shot in the back as police were trying to disperse about 1 000 youths who were trying to gather here," a police commander said, adding that several others had been wounded, one seriously.

3 Odinga's fans wounded

He later said another man had died of gunshot wounds in hospital.

Three young supporters of Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) were also wounded after police fired live rounds in Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum, witnesses said.

Odinga, who charged that Kibaki engineered his narrow victory in the December 27 election through a rigged ballot count, called the three days of demonstrations despite the possibility of more violence after attempts last week to get the two to enter talks to find a political solution failed to make headway.

The announcement on December 30 of Kibaki's re-election, despite concerns expressed by international vote monitors and complaints by the opposition, sparked unrest that rapidly descended into Kenya's worst tribal violence in more than a quarter century.

As protests picked up on Wednesday, Odinga was defiant and warned that the victory for his movement in parliament the day before was the beginning of a fresh challenge to Kibaki's rule.

'There will be no business as usual'

Odinga added: "They are shooting at our supporters, but this will not intimidate us from carrying on with our protests. It is an illegal government using brute force on unarmed people.

"Nothing will stop us from mounting such rallies ... We showed in parliament yesterday that there will be no business as usual in our country."

The victory for the opposition candidate in the election of the parliament speaker was a first setback for the government since Kibaki was sworn into office more than two weeks ago.

Justice Minister Martha Karua hoped the opposition would outlive its anger and support the government in development.

She said: "With time, those in opposition will definitely vote for what is good for the nation. We don't expect to have problems when transacting business in the House."

In Kibera on Wednesday, Odinga's supporters vowed to continue their protests despite police crackdowns.

- AFP