Government helicopters fired on crowds in the Rift Valley on Tuesday-the latest flare-up of the ethnic fighting that has gripped Kenya since its disputed presidential vote. Earlier in day, gunmen killed an opposition lawmaker in Nairobi.
Under increasing pressure to share power, President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga formally opened negotiations, but the two remained far apart on the vote outcome-an issue each has indicated in not negotiable.
Odinga insisted what needed "the most urgent attention" was the resolution of the flawed election results. Kibaki deplored the fact that some Kenyans "have been incited to hate one another...as enemies."
Former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan is helping mediate the dispute and Tuesday's meeting. "The people need you," he told them. "They want you to take charge of the situation and do whatever possible to prevent the downward slide into chaos that is threatening this country."
Mugabe Were, who was shot to death as he drove home Tuesday, was among a slew of opposition members who won seats in the legislative vote held at the same time as the presidential election on Dec. 27th. The opposition, which won the most seats in parliament, accuses Kibaki of stealing the presidential vote.
In western Kenya's Rift Valley, about 5,000 people set fire to homes an smashed shop windows in Naivaska, dragging away goods. Five police officers fired into the air but were unable to control the turmoil. Naivasha's police chief tried to calm the crowd but was pelted with stones and fled in his car.
Associated Press
This is a very sad commentary on how tribal relations have gotten worse as a result of the post-election acrimony. Today was the day we were planning to return. As I reflect back on the last two weeks, I realize it was a wise decision to postpone our trip until January 2009. Hopefully this nasty period of Kenya's history will be a distant memory by then.
ed fischer
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