Ethnic Hatred Fuels More Kenya Violence

28 Jan 2008 CNN

Police attempt to secure a street in Naivasha

Ethnic fighting once again engulfed Kenya's western Rift Valley town of Naivasha Red Cross officials reported brutal attacks by members of the Kikuyu tribe on other ethnic groups. There were reports of people being burned alive in their homes. The Red Cross said as many as 30 people were killed. Ethnic killings continued in the nearby town of Nakuru, where another 47 people have died since the latest wave of violence began, according to the ODM officials

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki, left, shakes hands with opposition leader Raila Odinga on 25 Jan 2008

It is a dramatic turn of events, considering Odinga was shaking Kibaki's hand three days ago after the two met under the auspices of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Many had hoped Thursday's meeting, would bring an end to the outbreak of bloody ethnic battles. But it seems to have had the opposite effect. Odinga blamed Kibaki's government for orchestrating the Rift Valley violence "to try to influence mediation efforts" and "to divert (attention) from election malpractice to security and violence." "After stealing the elections from Kenyans, Kibaki now wishes to deny them justice and peace," Odinga said.

Television footage showed a man in the back of a police vehicle covered in blood with a large machete wound on the side of his head. Kenyan police dispersed large gangs and cleared rocks littering the streets of Naivasha, which is dominated by Kikuyu. Tree branches, heavy boulders and oil drums littered the streets of Naivasha's town center as the Kikuyu gangs erected temporary road blocks, CNN correspondent Zain Verjee reported. She said the atmosphere was tense as the gangs checked cars to identify rival tribes.