Kenya's Reality Check as Annan Jets in

23 Jan 2008 The Standard (Kenyan Newspaper)

Expectations that former UN chief, Mr Kofi Annan will bring together the two warring groups and chart a path out of a crippling post-election impasse were quite high last night. But the bloodletting continued unabated.

Youths suspected to be members of the outlawed Mungiki sect overran and took over Elburgon. They attacked a motorist and burnt him to death in his car. They barricaded all roads leading in and out of Molo. In Kipkelion, seven more people were killed, bringing the death toll of those who have died in the district to 29. Four bodies were discovered by villagers in the bush at Mutaragon. "The bodies, which have been taken away by the police, had deep cuts while others seem to have been hit with blunt objects," said a provincial administrator. Rival groups battled it out most of the day in Nairobi's Korogocho, Huruma and Mathare slums. Four people were killed in the skirmishes.

And another internationally renowned marathoner, Wesley Ngetich, 34, was shot in the chest with an arrow during fighting in his hometown of Trans Mara. Three weeks ago, former Olympian Lucas Sang met his death in the hands of a marauding crowd on a night that another top athlete, world marathon champion Luke Kibet, narrowly escaped death. Official Government figures released on Tuesday put the number of those killed so far at 685.