(Ebru News/AP) Residents of Nairobi's Mathare shanty town fled their homes today following five days of post election violence in Kenya where rights groups say over 300 people have died. Elsewhere, residents of the Kenyan city of Mombasa lined for scarce food and fuel supplies today. Areas of the shanty town have been set alight and thousands of people have been left homeless.
The violence was sparked by charges President Mwai Kibaki stole his way to re-election, even his elections chief was quoted today as saying he could not be sure who won.
In one of the worst attacks, a mob set fire to a church where Kikuyus Tribe members had taken refuge killing perhaps as many as 50.
Residents of Eldoret who had fled the violence by flying to Nairobi were waiting at the airport for relatives to pick them up..
Mary Wambui, Eldoret resident said:
"It's like the idea was to kill us. Because if they were genuine, they would have told us 'ok we have given you 24 hours to leave Eldoret if you are a Kikuyu leave,' but they didn't, they just started killing."
Though much of Nairobi was quiet today aside from clashes in the Mathare shanty town, many fear things may get worse.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said he will go ahead with plans to lead a million man protest march in the capital tomorrow even though the government has banned it.
Away from the violence in Mombasa, tourists continued to enjoy their holidays on Kenya's sweltering coast.
The manager of the Sarova Whitesands Hotel said toruists have not been a target of the violence.
Mohamed Hirsi, Manager of Sarova Whitesands Hotel said:
"But I must emphasize that we really need peace and sanity to be restored on our streets. As much as tourists have not been targeted, this is specifically a Kenyan affair.
But many businesses closed down during the unrest and some foreign governments have advised their citizens against travel to the usually tourist-friendly nation.
Ebru TV
Related News