| The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is in Kenya to help bring the one month long conflict to an end. “My message to the government and people of Kenya is to stop this violence and to solve all these issues through dialogue in a peaceful manner. “You are taking a very important historical responsibility at this critically important junction.” |
Policeman Lynched
Fresh fighting broke out in Kenya leaving 10 dead. In another incident a policeman was lynched by a mob of over 3000 people who were armed with poisonous bows and arrows plus machetes. The same group demolished a government building, stole 4 guns and 200 rounds of ammunition. The policeman who was killed was from Anaimoi which is home to the Late David Too.
US Issues Travel Alert
On Thursday the United States alerted Americans on the issue of traveling to Kenya. The situation in Kenya is volatile and subject to change on short notice.”A recent outbreak of protests in Nairobi and violent civil unrest in Kisumu, Nakuru, and Naivasha demonstrates the potential for spontaneous violence in the current political climate,”
The statement also added that Americans should be prepared for any outbreak of clashes between police and demonstrators or clashes between rival groups.
Flower Project Affected
With two weeks to the day of love(Valentine’s Day), Kenya that largely depends on horticulture particularly flowers has been experiencing very tense situations in the last one month as a result of President Mwai Kibaki re-election. The death toll is currently at 850 with an estimated 300,000 displaced.
The firms that deal in flowers are contemplating their next move after most workers have not yet reported to work for fear of being attacked by rival groups. Some flower firms have staff that reside at the factories and these have continued with operations amid tight security. The big question is how will they transport the flowers from Naivasha to Nairobi so that they can access the western markets before valentine’s day.
FBI Offers to Investigate the MP Killings
A statement from the US Embassy indicates that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered to probe the killings of the two ODM MPs. The offer has however been rejected by government under the pretext that its not an American involved in the murder and therfore they acan take care of the whole matter.
If it is to help unravel who is responsible for the ethnic cleansing then the government of Kenya welcomes any support otherwise in the case of the second shooting the police says it was a crime of passion, Governement spokesman Alfred Mutua said.
