KENYA: Calm returns to Mombasa after pre-voting violence

Record ID: 362543

  • Title: KENYA: Calm returns to Mombasa after pre-voting violence
  • Date: 5th March 2013
  • Summary: MOMBASA, KENYA (MARCH 5, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER VENDORS TAKING NEWSPAPERS FROM VAN SIGN READING MOMBASA
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2UGQA2YSMGOQRIZTI10QJCLH8
  • Story Text: Calm has returned to Kenya's coastal tourist hub of Mombasa after at least 15 people were killed ahead of Monday's voting.

    Calm has returned to Kenya's coastal and tourist destination city of Mombasa on Tuesday (March 5) after at least 15 people including 9 policemen were killed ahead of Monday's (March 4) tensely contested elections.
    Security officers deployed to keep the peace were killed in attacks by machete-wielding gangs before polling stations opened on Monday. Regional police said six attackers were also killed.
    On Tuesday morning residents went about their business as usual amid mild apprehension.
    "There was a bit of tension yesterday after we heard that policemen had been killed but things are slowly retuning to normal now. People have no issues and are keenly waiting to hear the announcement of results," said John Yego.
    "For now everyone here in Mombasa is waiting, people are waiting for the results and we will know after the final announcement what will happen in Kenya," added John Musembi.
    Senior police officers blamed the attacks on a separatist movement, the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), which wanted the national vote scrapped and a referendum on secession instead.
    But the group's spokesman denied responsibility and said it only sought change by peaceful means.
    Partial counting on Tuesday show 51-year old deputy prime ministry Uhuru Kenyatta in the lead, over his rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
    Kenyatta's lead held through counting overnight but could still be overhauled with about two-thirds of polling stations still to report. The election committee said counting might not be completed till Wednesday (March 6), delaying any official announcement.
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