KENYA: Kenya railway line uprooted by opposition supporters protesting cabinet deadlock

Record ID: 360767

  • Title: KENYA: Kenya railway line uprooted by opposition supporters protesting cabinet deadlock
  • Date: 8th April 2008
  • Summary: MORE POLICE ON RAILWAY LINES
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA55OB2WTZVJIQN8Q9578Y9G29Y
  • Story Text: Protesters rip out railway lines that connect Kenyan to Uganda in protests over deepening political deadlock over a power-sharing cabinet.
    Kenyan opposition supporters ripped out a railway line running through a Nairobi slum with their bare hands, during protests at deepening political deadlock over a power-sharing cabinet.
    The railway tracks connecting the Kenyan port of Mombasa, the region's largest, with Uganda were ripped from their lines by groups of youth who had earlier blocked roads and burnt tyres in protests.
    Riot police were in the Kibera slum and fired tear gas and shot in the air to disperse the crowds.
    Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and rival Raila Odinga delayed naming the new cabinet on Monday (April 7) after disagreeing over how to share out ministries and traded blame over who was responsible.
    The cabinet is central to a deal on ending Kenya's post-election crisis.
    Protesters blamed president Kibaki for the stalemate.

    "Kibaki should step out, he is disturbing us and we are suffering.
    Why? The price of food is rising and all he can tell those in the meetings is, tomorrow tomorrow; we are tired," said one Kibera resident.
    On Tuesday the opposition suspended talks with Kibaki's party, further complicating a process put in motion by a power sharing deal signed by both sides stemming violence following the disputed re-election of president Kibaki.
    Kenya, east Africa's biggest economy and an important regional trade, transport and tourism hub, suffered heavily from the post-election riots and ethnic violence -- the worst turmoil since independence in 1963.
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