Kenyan police hunt opposition politicians
KENYA - At least three people killed in Kawangare area of Nairobi over weekend after contentious rerun of presidential elections
Police in Kenya are searching for opposition politicians they blame for an outbreak of violence in a slum neighborhood of Nairobi, senior officials have said. At least three people were killed in violence on Friday and Saturday in Kawangare, in the west of the city. “In Kawangare people were targeting those who voted. We are looking for suspects who are politicians and you will see arrests soon”, said Martin Kimani, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s special envoy for countering violent extremism. Fears of bloodshed in Kenya are growing after violent clashes between ethnic groups and a hardening of divisive rhetoric after the contentious rerun of presidential elections last week. With a series of flashpoints looming in coming days, civil society groups, diplomats and some leading politicians are making increasingly desperate efforts to reduce tensions. Although votes are still being counted in the poll, local media say Kenyatta, the incumbent, has won 98% of ballots cast in the election boycotted by the opposition led by veteran politician Raila Odinga. The rerun was marred by violent protests in the country’s western region, an opposition stronghold, and in Nairobi’s volatile slum neighborhoods. Western diplomats called on Kenyatta and Odinga to end the political crisis and avert further loss of life. Kimani defended the actions of Kenyan police and paramilitaries who have been accused of heavy-handed tactics and human rights abuse. “The security services have not undertaken any systematic use of violence to intimidate or confront any peaceful demonstrators”, he said.
(Theguardian.com)