KENYA: Mourners attend funeral in Kericho of opposition parliament member David Kimutai Too

Record ID: 360369

  • Title: KENYA: Mourners attend funeral in Kericho of opposition parliament member David Kimutai Too
  • Date: 9th February 2008
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS ATTENDING FUNERAL MOURNERS LINING UP TO WALK PAST COFFIN VARIOUS OF MOURNERS WALKING PAST OPEN COFFIN FEMALE SUPPORTERS OF ODM ARRIVING DRESSED IN ORANGE MOURNERS LINING TO PAY RESPECTS VARIOUS OF GOSPEL CHOIR SINGING HYMN
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAERWIU5FEJ55N6QO3YLHJV336K
  • Story Text: Thousands of people attended the funeral of opposition legislator David Kimutai Too in Chepkoiyo, Kericho on Saturday (February 9), as Kenya's feuding parties looked near a deal to end the political crisis in the country.
    Too, a member of parliament for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was shot dead on Jan.31 in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
    ODM leader Raila Odinga attended Saturday's funeral and was greeted by thousands of supporters.
    Kenya's feuding parties looked on the verge of striking a power-sharing deal on Friday (February 8) to end a deadly political crisis after narrowing their differences over the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki.
    Odinga has accused Kibaki of rigging the Dec. 27 poll, triggering riots and ethnic attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people and smashed the country's image as a peaceful business, tourism and transport hub.
    Former U.N. boss Kofi Annan, who is leading talks to end the turmoil, seemed on Friday to have made significant progress.
    Quoting sources in the discussions, local media said both parties had made concessions, paving the way for power sharing.
    Talks will resume on Monday and Annan's mediators were due to address a special session of parliament on Tuesday to brief legislators on the developments.
    In a statement, Odinga said he was confident the talks would bear fruit, and Kibaki's office said the president was satisfied the mediation was going well.
    Despite the apparent progress, a lasting deal was still far from certain. Kenya's bloodshed has exposed deep divisions over land, wealth and power sown during British colonial rule and stoked by politicians ever since.
    Annan says he hopes delegates will end their discussions on settling the political issues by early next week.
    Both sides have agreed on principles to end the violence and help refugees. Annan had given them until mid-February to resolve a third item: what should be done about the disputed election.
    The former U.N. chief hopes talks on the deeper underlying issues, such as land grievances, will be tackled within a year.
    The unrest has displaced some 300,000 people.
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