Calm of a sort as weary Kenyans tire of protests amid calls for fresh poll

Published on Friday 4 January 2008 20:32

THE slums of the Kenyan capital were gradually returning to normal yesterday as plans for a second day of demonstrations against flawed elections fizzled out.

Stalls reopened and people emerged from the sanctuary of their mud brick homes after violent scenes on Thursday, when opposition supporters took on police in a series of running battles across the city.

Meanwhile, opposition politicians called for a rerun of last week's presidential ballot.

But their planned protests failed to materialise as many ordinary Kenyans said they would simply rather buy food or return to work.

"We're tired, we're not going to march," said Samuel Muhati, a resident of the Mathare slum. "Let the fighting stop."

In Kibera, the country's single largest slum, shops remained shut and small groups of protesters gathered on street corners.

"Let people die and then there will be a change," said Joshua Okoth, standing with a group of young men by the smoking remains of a Kibera food market.

The United Nations said about 500,000 people were in dire need of humanitarian assistance following a week of roadblocks and ethnic violence.

At least 300 people have died since the president, Mwai Kibaki, was sworn in for a second, disputed term on Sunday.

His rival, Raila Odinga, who had an early lead as votes were tallied, has accused him of rigging the election.

The political dispute also has a tribal dimension, pitting Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu supporters against Mr Odinga's Luos from western Kenya, reawakening long-standing hostility.

Yesterday, Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement said fresh elections should be held within three months.

"The way forward will involve a transitional arrangement, during which proper preparation can be made for a new election that will be transparent and democratic," said Anyang Nyongo, ODM's secretary general.

The government has insisted there is no need for an investigation or international mediation.

But yesterday an official spokesman suggested a fresh election might be possible under certain conditions.

"We would accept even another election, as long as the constitution is followed," said Alfred Mutua. "If the courts decide it, we would accept that."

Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town, met Mr Kibaki yesterday after spending two hours with Mr Odinga on Thursday.

He said he was optimistic that a political solution could be found.

"There is a great deal of hope since both the ODM and government have indicated they are open to negotiations," he told a press conference.

"The president was not averse to the formation of coalitions – but clearly there has to be an acceptance that there is a governing authority in the country," he added.

Jendayi Frazer, US assistant secretary of state, was due to arrive in Kenya yesterday to further push for a compromise.

Earlier, opposition politicians had said they would continue to mobilise supporters and promised daily protests.

Few heeded the call. Many shops were open for business as usual yesterday and traffic gradually returned to streets which had been blocked with burning tyres a day earlier.

Shoppers flocked to supermarkets, trying to stock up before any resumption of violence.

However, there were reports of trouble elsewhere. Police in the port city of Mombasa fired teargas to disperse about 200 Muslim anti-government demonstrators after Friday prayers.

And it emerged that a former Kenyan Olympic athlete had been stoned to death in Eldoret town, scene of some of the worst violence.

Friends said Lucas Sang, a middle-distance runner who competed in the 1988 Seoul games and in 1992 in Barcelona, had been mistaken for a member of the Kikuyu tribe on Tuesday night.

The World Bank said the violence could hurt Kenya's impressive economic gains – and harm neighbouring countries that relied on it as the region's business and transport hub.

Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are already suffering fuel shortages as the conflict chokes off supplies from Mombasa. The UN World Food Programme said its biggest problem in getting food to displaced people was moving lorries to western Kenya.

Kenyans grew increasingly impatient at Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga's failure to talk to end the violence.

"Despite the words of concern by both sides about the dangerous situation in Kenya and public statements that they are ready for dialogue, belligerence is still drowning out voices of reason," said the Daily Nation newspaper.