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Kenyan Killings 'Planned'

Flyers, arms distribution point to orchestrated violence

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 21, 2008 5:38 AM CST
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(Newser) – As the death toll in Kenya's ongoing ethnic violence continued to mount yesterday, evidence indicates that some of the horrific bloodshed was carefully planned, the New York Times reports. Flyers warned of ethnic killings—now responsible for at least 650 deaths in the past month—even before December's controversial presidential election. Young men were armed by elders, politicians inflamed tensions in speeches, and tribal leaders report holding meetings to plot attacks.

“It wasn’t like people just woke up and started fighting each other,” said a Kenya Human Rights Commission member. “It was organized.” It's not clear if a systemic effort exists to launch a national war and if top leaders have been involved, but some clashes were clearly orchestrated. “You don’t move 10 tons of concrete on your back" to suddenly block roads, said one policeman. “This is a full military operation.”

Police officers, left, confront a man during ethnic fighting in the Mathare slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Renewed ethnic fighting broke out in Nairobi's Mathare slum Sunday, where several homes were set blaze during several hours of running battles between Kikuyu and Luo ethnic groups. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Police officers, left, confront a man during ethnic fighting in the Mathare slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Renewed ethnic fighting broke out in Nairobi's Mathare slum Sunday, where several...   (Associated Press)
Opposition supporters scream at Kikuyu men during ethnic fighting in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Renewed ethnic fighting broke out in Nairobi's Mathare slum Sunday, where several homes were set blaze during several hours of running battles between Kikuyu and Luo ethnic groups.(AP Photo/Karel...
Opposition supporters scream at Kikuyu men during ethnic fighting in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Renewed ethnic fighting broke out in Nairobi's Mathare slum Sunday, where...   (Associated Press)
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga attends Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Church in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Fierce fighting continued in the Rift valley and Nairobi's Mathare slum Sunday but Kenya's opposition party - determined to bring down Mwai Kibaki's government - called...
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga attends Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Church in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Fierce fighting continued in the Rift valley and Nairobi's...   (Associated Press)
A Kikuyu woman moves furniture under police guard as opposition supporters, one of them holding up a poster of opposition leader Raila Odinga, shout out threats, during ethnic fighting in the Mathare slum, Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Renewed ethnic fighting broke out in Nairobi's Mathare slum Sunday, where...
A Kikuyu woman moves furniture under police guard as opposition supporters, one of them holding up a poster of opposition leader Raila Odinga, shout out threats, during ethnic fighting in the Mathare...   (Associated Press)
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A roundup of the weekend's violence
BBC

 
Kenya • violence • ethnic conflict • Kikuyu • Kenyan elections • Masai • Kalenjin

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