KENYA'S ELECTORAL CRISIS: ODM HOLDS MOSTLY

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000278 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KE SUBJECT: KENYA'S ELECTORAL CRISIS: ODM HOLDS MOSTLY PEACEFUL PUBLIC FUNERALS FOR VICTIMS OF POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE REF: NAIROBI 00245 ¶1. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on January 23 held public funerals in Nairobi, Kisumu (Nyanza Province),and Kakamega (Western Province) for victims of Kenya's post-election violence. These deaths were all alleged by ODM to be the result of police action, and not civilian on civilian violence. (Note: Deaths from police actions have generally been of ODM supporters and protestors while deaths from civilian-on-civilian violence have generally been of government supporters or individuals perceived by the killers to be of a government-allied ethnic group. End Note.) These were the first government-sanctioned ODM gatherings since Kenya's electoral crisis began. ¶2. The funerals were prayer gatherings followed by a public procession escorting the victims' coffins to their burial places. The Kisumu and Kakamega gatherings went off peacefully, but there was violence in Nairobi. ¶3. The Nairobi event was attended by ODM leader Raila Odinga and most of the party's top leadership. Raila opened the event by telling those gathered that ODM will not back down in its struggle for justice. He called on his followers to refrain from violence and destruction of property. The event proceeded peacefully until, near the end, a group of ODM youth allegedly began stoning cars. This caused police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. Chaos ensued. The youths then proceeded to damage a Telcom Kenya switching station (15 workers had to be rescued by police) and burned several cars. There were also reports of looting. ¶4. COMMENT: The fact that the government permitted the events is a welcome affirmation of the right to public assembly and represents a softening of the government's stance as Kofi Annan begins his mediation mission (reftel). Annan's presence is apparently causing both parties to moderate their position: ODM called off a series of public protests announced for January 24, at Annan's request. A disconcerting fact is that Raila's plea for non-violence fell on deaf ears. The longer Kenya's electoral crisis continues, the harder it will be for ODM to control its supporters. RANNEBERGER