Kenyans Riot as Vote Count Drags On

Tempers flared at the Electoral Commission of Kenya briefings as party agents demanded to know why the count was taking so long. The fact local TV stations were releasing figures much faster than the commission fueled the anger.

With no official result, the opposition Orange Democratic Movement declared its leader, Raila Odinga, the winner and called on Kibaki to concede defeat in order to halt the violence in many areas.

Ethnic riots exploded across Kenya today as the official vote count in the country’s presidential election dragged on, prompting new accusations of fraud.

Opposition supporters, mainly from the Luo tribe, waved machetes, looted businesses and set fire to shops and houses belonging to Kikuyus, the tribe associated with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

Kiosks along the road were burning in the Kibera slum area, stronghold of the opposition presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, as furious crowds of young men rioted and chanted anti-Kikuyu slogans.

Posted by Dilated_Rebel
Born and raised very humbly in a “small town” in southern California, I was a product of different worlds. Literally, part of my family descends from Mexico the rest from Portugal and Uruguay. This mixture had kept me from supporting any racist psyche found...