More protests blight Kenya
Neither Mwai Kibaki nor Raila Odinga look like backing down in Kenya
Wednesday, 16, Jan 2008 02:44
A fresh wave of violence swept across Kenya today as police crushed opposition rallies across the east African state.
Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) saw moderate support for his ongoing campaign against incumbent Mwai Kibaki's win in the contested December 27th election.
But the Daily Nation newspaper said the atmosphere in most towns remained tense amid a heavy police presence.
Two people were reported to have died as a result of the protest in Kisumu, where police dispersed a crowd of at least 300 by firing shots over their heads.
In the capital, Nairobi, tear gas was used to quell youths emerging from the Kibera slum and in the coastal city of Mombasa.
Other western towns such as Eldoret, where significant violence has taken place since the disputed December 27th elections, remained quiet.
Yesterday saw the election of opposition candidate Kenneth Marende as the Kenyan parliament's speaker, a narrow victory by just four votes celebrated by Mr Odinga's party.
Analysts say his election makes it much more difficult for Mr Kibaki to govern – his PNU party holds less than half the parliamentary seats of the ODM – and gives the opposition movement further momentum.
Mr Marende was quoted by the Daily Nation as saying: "I will be dynamic, competent and an honest speaker. I will also make sure that parliament remains alert to the needs of the people. And I will ask you not to look at my lips but at my heart."