afrol News - Kenya police kill 12 rioters

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Kenya
Politics | Society | Human rights
Kenya police kill 12 rioters

afrol News, 14 April - In an attempt to contain the latest nationwide protests, Kenyan police have reportedly shot dead at least 12 people across the country.

The protests erupted after a wife of one of the outlawed Mungiki sect leaders was mysteriously killed.

Virginia Nyaiko, the wife of the jailed cult leader, Maina Njena, was founded beheaded.

Last year, Kenyan police killed more than 500 members of the banned sect. Having blamed the police for killing their members, including Mrs Nyaiko, Mungiki loyalists resorted to violent protests across the country.

In many places, including the capital Nairobi, irate youths barricaded roads, burnt tyres and vehicles as well as attacked motorists. They also set fire on a Nairobi police building, forcing police to fire bullets and teargas to contain the already charged protesters.

Police Spokesman, Eric Kiraithe, said allegations of police involvement in Mrs Nyaiko's killing did not hold water.

Meanwhile, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Sunday announced the establishment of a coalition government, naming opposition leader Raila Odinga as Prime Minister to end a political deadlock that followed a nationwide bloodshed.

"So, my challenge to the new cabinet members and the entire national leadership at all levels is: let us put politics aside and get to work," Mr Kibaki said.

"Let us build a new Kenya where justice is our shield and defender, and where peace, liberty and plenty will be found throughout our country."

Uhuru Kenyatta of the ruling Party of National Unity and Musalia Mudavadi of the Orange Democratic Movement have been named deputy Prime Ministers as well as Ministers for Trade and Local Government, respectively.

This development sealed weeks of political deadlock in Kenya where a dispute over presidential election results turned into "ethnic cleansing", resulting to the killing of 1,500 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

A successful mediation by the former UN chief Kofi Annan led to the signing of a power-sharing government. Under the deal, a constitutional amendment was required for the creation of the office of a Prime Minister and two deputy Prime Ministers.