Kenya was plunged into a media blackout on Monday as the government banned all live broadcasts and the death toll climbed in violence sparked by president Mwai Kibaki’s disputed election victory reports the Financial Times.
Fighting that erupted on Sunday night continued across the country as police clashed with supporters of Raila Odinga, the main opposition leader, who were incensed by an election result that international observers said was not credible.
At least 64 people died in overnight violence, according to the AFP news agency, and as homes were torched and shops looted in several towns armed police flooded the streets firing live bullets and tear gas to quell the unrest.
Widespread suspicions of vote rigging and the subsequent violence are shattering Kenya’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and open democracies.
The government remained silent after imposing the black out, creating an information vacuum that was filled by wild rumours and left the country in the grip of anxiety. The police commissioner was forced to release a statement refuting reports that he had resigned.
Mr Odinga said: ”Kenya is in a state of mourning, mourning the loss of democracy. We have seen democracy smothered, stangulated and finally buried.”
Mr Odinga called on Monday for a mass rally in Nairobi’s main park on Thursday to protest a disputed vote.
”We are going to call for a meeting at Uhuru park on January 3 where we expect a million Kenyans to attend,” he told a news conference. His camp had previously called on Kenyans to gather on Monday, but police banned the meeting.
Read it here: Kenya Death Toll climbs after disputed Poll