Kenyan Election Upheaval


ODM protesters attacking the telecommunications building On Wednesday 23rd January 2008 collective funerals were held at a church named Ligi Ndogo in Nairobi for those killed during the previous week s 3 day rallies by ODM supporters They were protesting at the request of the Opposition leader Raila Odinga over the now much debated disputed election result held 27th December The ceremony was overseen by the ODM leadership Unfortunately half way through the service when police tried to force supporters who had spilled onto the streets back into the church grounds clashes between the GSU General Service Unit who are specially equipped riot police and the service attenders ensued The local telecommunications building was raided looted and burned during the clashes In the aftermath of the December 2007 elections Kenya was plunged into mayhem threatening to tear one of Africa s most stable countries apart Tribal tensions were unleashed when the Opposition felt it was denied the Presidency after allegations of mass vote rigging in the elections Attempts at mediation were bravely led by Kofi Annan but for a while seemed doomed to failure as both sides continued to bicker over the extent of rigging in the elections and the identity of those who bore responsibility for the troubles and tribal violence in the country Finally after the dedicated persistence of Kofi Annan a peace agreement was signed on 28th February A power sharing Government between President Mwai Kibaki and the Opposition Leader Raila Odinga who formally took up the newly created position of Prime Minister was formed The price though on the common Mwanainchi common man was terrible Approximately 1 500 people were killed and nearly 250 000 were internally displaced The world waits and hopes that Kenya does not become the latest victim to be condemned by a very African sickness that of inter tribal conflict and ultimately the destruction of a once stable and peaceful


Size: 5095px × 3397px
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Photo credit: © George Philipas / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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