So far, Kenya’s government has banned public gatherings. About 600 people have been killed in the chaos that ensued after the results of December 27 where the incumbent Mwai Kibaki was reelected as Kenya’s president. The chaos came as supporters of the opposition came to protest the polls in December.
According to the HRW, the police in several cities throughout the country had resulted to using live ammunition to disperse both the protesters and looters. Defeated opposition candidate and leader Raila Odinga had called for further protests.
Ever since violence clashes erupted in Kenya since the election, the police had banned all public gatherings.
“Kenyan security forces have a duty to rein in criminal violence and should protect people, but they shouldn’t turn their weapons on peaceful protestors,” said acting Africa director of HRW, Georgette Gagnon.
However, the police say that they had only shot the looters.
The United Nations said that at least half-a-million people will need emergency aid.
Orange Democratic Movement leader and candidate Raila Odinga had said the vote was rigged. Odinga said that he was ready for talks as long as it was led by international mediators. However, President Kibaki rejected the condition.
There might be another flashpoint of violence when Kenya’s parliament reopens with the ODM winning 99 of the seats with Kibaki’s Party of National Unity winning 43 of them.
Kofi Annan, former Secretary General to the UN is supposed to be in Nairobi this week to head a panel to broker a deal between the two sides. At the same time, both the United States and European Union said that they would review their relations with Kenya unless the two men reach a compromise that restores stability to the nation.
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