Raila stopped again

Kenyan police yesterday blocked a fresh opposition rally in Nairobi after the main rally that had been scheduled for Thursday at the Uhuru grounds was dispersed by police.

Earlier reports had, however, indicated that the rally would take place on Tuesday next week but the opposition said they would press on with the rally on Friday.

Thousands of police in Kenya were deployed around Nairobi, to prevent another opposition rally. However, reports coming out of Nairobi indicated that enthusiasm for the protest has waned in the slum areas.

By afternoon, there were big crowds gathering, according to the BBC. Several hundred youths gathered outside the offices of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga's ODM party in Nairobi, saying they intend to press ahead with their planned protest. But other opposition supporters have been telling the media they do not want to be beaten up. Police were again on patrol around Uhuru Park - although reports show that they were fewer than on Thursday, suggesting a much calmer atmosphere.

Protesters battled for hours on Thursday to march at the park but were held back by police firing teargas, water cannon and warning shots. The opposition called the demonstration off, saying it wanted to save lives.

The rally was banned by the government which had prohibited political gatherings before the December 27 elections.

Shots cracked out as police fired over the heads of protesters and smoke billowed over the city slums. Flames burst from a large crucifix suspended from the roof of a burning church in Kibera, one of Africa's largest slums, and a hotbed of support for opposition leader Raila Odinga. From dawn, riot police were out in force as the city, virtually deserted by workers, was slowly transformed into a battleground. Several columns of protesters surged out of slums towards the city-centre, singing the national anthem, chanting "Peace" and waving twigs and leaves. When confronted with police lines, they sat or knelt on the roads.

As tempers rose, they began burning cars and buildings. Police responded with teargas and water cannons. They fired in the air when the crowd knelt, shouting "Kill us all".

The opposition says the government rigged last week's presidential election. More than 300 people have been killed in post-election violence while another 70,000 have been displaced. Hundreds of Kenyans are fleeing into Uganda in search of refuge.

The disputed winner, Mr Mwai Kibaki, has said he is ready to talk to the opposition, once the unrest has ended.

However, he warned that "those who continue to violate the law would face its full force", and made it clear that the opposition is to blame for the violence.

"I am deeply disturbed by the senseless violence instigated by some leaders in pursuit of their personal political agenda," he said. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer was due in Nairobi on Friday evening to meet President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says he was robbed of victory in the December 27 vote in east Africa's biggest economy.

Already, South African Noble peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu is in Kenya trying to start mediation. But plans for African Union leader John Kufuor to travel to Kenya to spearhead mediation efforts have not come to fruition.

by Grace Natabaalo & Nation Team