Kenyan violence toll hits 124

2007-12-31 13:51

Nairobi - An eruption of fresh violence triggered by Kenya's disputed presidential ballot left more than 100 dead on Monday, after defeated opposition candidate Raila Odinga rejected Mwai Kibaki's re-election.

Further clashes were feared as Odinga planned to hold his own alternative inauguration at a mass rally later on Monday, a day after Kibaki was officially sworn in for a second term despite widespread allegations of vote-rigging.

At least 64 people were killed overnight in western Kenya in fresh outbreaks of tribal violence and clashes between police, looters and opposition activists.

Separate clashes in the capital, Nairobi, claimed a further 40 lives, said police.

Kenya bans all live broadcasts

At least 124 people had now been killed since Thursday's elections, which had left one of Africa's more stable teetering on the brink of turmoil.

The government had enforced a ban on live television broadcasts related to the election in what it said was an effort to contain the violence.

Police spokesperson Eric Kiraithe said: "We know there are skirmishes in many parts of the country. We are fully cracking down and fully responding to every situation."

A total of 46 bodies were brought to the morgue in Kisumu, Kenya's third largest city and an Odinga stronghold, a mortuary attendant said.

"These bodies were brought here overnight by police officers," he said, adding that 20 of them had multiple bullet wounds.

Local police chief Grace Kaindi declined to comment on the number of dead, but acknowledged that police had opened fire on "looters" during the night.

'We'll deal with rioters ruthlessly'

Reporters were also shown seven other bodies in Kisumu's main hospital, waiting to be transferred to the morgue. Police imposed a daytime curfew in the city, with an order to shoot violators.

"We are going to deal with them (rioters) ruthlessly," said Michael Baraza, a top police commander in the region.

Another seven people were killed in clashes between rival political supporters in the town of Nakuru, and four in a village near Kapsabet, said police.

According to police, hundreds of houses had already been torched in the western Rift Valley province and fresh fighting broke out on Monday in Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum.

Opposition supporters there were trying to march towards the city centre, where Odinga, a fiery 62-year-old former political prisoner, planned to hold an alternative swearing-in ceremony presenting him to the nation as "the People's President".

Odinga's party said: "We know that the people of Kenya elected Raila Amolo Odinga as their legitimate president and they are ready to see him serve democratically in that capacity."

Odinga, who had been threatened with arrest if the rally went ahead, stressed the need for "peaceful mass action" as the violence flared.

- AFP