International pressure mounted on Kenya’s leaders Wednesday to end postelection violence that has killed more than 300 people, including dozens burned alive as they sought refuge in a church.
The killing of up to 50 ethnic Kikuyus as they sheltered in a church in the Rift Valley city of Eldoret fueled fears of deepening tribal conflict in what has been one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
The Kikuyu, Kenya’s largest ethnic group, are accused of using their dominance of politics and business to the detriment of others. President Mwai Kibaki, who won a second term in disputed elections, is a Kikuyu, while his rival Rail Odinga is from the Luo tribe, a smaller but still major tribe that says it has been marginalized.
The Bush administration expressed dismay over the turmoil, which erupted over allegations that the government stole the election.
“It’s hard-pressed to comprehend here how this could have gone so wrong in terms of Kenya being on its way to some stability and then having this election turn into such a violent situation,” said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
Much of Nairobi was quiet and deserted Wednesday, though clashes continued in the city’s giant Mathare slum. Odinga has said he will go ahead with plans to lead a “million man” protest march in the capital Thursday even though the government has banned it.
