KENYA: Security tightened in Nairobi a day after a hotly contested election of the parliamentary speaker

Record ID: 361954

  • Title: KENYA: Security tightened in Nairobi a day after a hotly contested election of the parliamentary speaker
  • Date: 16th January 2008
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS ON STREET MAN READING NEWSPAPER
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA799T304SNGUKOT2SYGLZKSG4S
  • Story Text: The Kenyan capital appears calm on the first day of planned three days of protest called by the opposition.
    Nairobi was calm on Wednesday (January 16) morning as Kenyan riot police guarded streets. The opposition called for 3 days of nationwide protests planned against President Mwai Kibaki's re-election.
    However, the police have banned the rallies, scheduled for midday (0900 GMT), and many Kenyans were staying at home for fear of trouble.
    More than 600 people have died, and 250,000 been left homeless, in unrest since the Dec. 27 vote that opposition leader Raila Odinga says was rigged.
    Previous opposition protests have turned slum areas around Nairobi and other major towns across the east African nation into battlegrounds, adding to a death toll mainly caused by inter-ethnic fighting.

    "I, in particular, work in a shop and we are fearing for the safety of our stock and of course ourselves. So we ask and request to our leaders who are calling for these rallies - please, let us have unity and we want to go back to work." said Boniface Ndegwa, a shop attendant in Nairobi.
    People were anticipating chaos, but there no early crowds gathering, according to Reuters reporters across the nation.
    Kenya's political crisis has jeopardised its democratic credentials, angered donors, driven tourists away and hurt one of Africa's most promising economies.
    In a blow to prospects for ending the political deadlock, former U.N.
    chief Kofi Annan, who was expected to start mediation on Wednesday, delayed his mission due to illness.
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