Kenyan police hunt opposition politicians they blame for violence

Police in Kenya are searching for opposition politicians they blame for an outbreak of violence in a slum neighbourhood of Nairobi, senior officials have said

At least three people were killed in violence on Friday and Saturday in Kawangare, in the west of the city.

“In Kawangare people were targeting those who voted … We are looking for suspects who are politicians and you will see arrests soon,” said Martin Kimani, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s special envoy for countering violent extremism.

Fears of bloodshed in Kenya are growing after violent clashes between ethnic groups and a hardening of divisive rhetoric after the contentious rerun of presidential elections last week.

With a series of flashpoints looming in coming days, civil society groups, diplomats and some leading politicians are making increasingly desperate efforts to reduce tensions.

Although votes are still being counted in the poll, local media say Kenyatta, the incumbent, has won 98% of ballots cast in the election boycotted by the opposition led by veteran politician Raila Odinga.

The rerun was marred by violent protests in the country’s western region, an opposition stronghold, and in Nairobi’s volatile slum neighbourhoods.

Western diplomats called on Kenyatta and Odinga to end the political crisis and avert further loss of life.

Kimani defended the actions of Kenyan police and paramilitaries who have been accused of heavy-handed tactics and human rights abuse.

“The security services have not undertaken any systematic use of violence to intimidate or confront any peaceful demonstrators,” he said.

The increasingly chaotic political drama in Kenya began when the supreme court overturned Kenyatta’s victory in the 8 August election. It cited irregularities and mismanagement by the electoral commission. The turnout for that poll was 80%.“There is a limit to the politics of vigilantism, interference and sabotage and we have to hold that line … We have had some calls for peace but immediately succeeded by more incitement.”

Odinga then withdrew from the rerun election, saying he believed it would be marred by the same flaws as the August vote. The low proportion of voters who turned out for the rerun – possibly only 35% – will undermine the credibility of any mandate Kenyatta may claim and will be seen as a victory by the opposition.

Kenyatta is expected to be declared winner on Monday, though a flood of legal challenges are expected.

“The only way the little guy gets justice in Kenya is through the operation of institutions that treat every one fairly … Both sides have been up to things they should not do,” said one western diplomat on Sunday.

So far this year, between 55 and 75 people have died in election-related violence.