Kenya's post election violence

Following the announcement of the results for the Kenya General Election, sporadic violence erupted across the county resulting in loss of lives, injuries, looting, and destruction of property and the displacement of thousands of people.

The violence has been attributed to political parties disputing the presidential results. Over 250,000 people have been affected and/or displaced, including about 10,000 people in Busia, 20,000 in Burnt Forest, 30,000 in Eldoret and 3,000 in Nairobi.

1 January

In one of the most shocking atrocities perpetuated during the crisis, over 50 people were killed when the church they were hiding in was attacked and burnt in Eldoret in the west of the county near the border with Uganda.

4 January

Over 400 people have been reported dead and over 2,000 people injured. The wounded sustained panga (machete) cuts, gunshot wounds and burns.

Tension remains high, and there is increased displacement of people into police stations, churches, schools and market centres. Churches are no longer safe as they have also become target.

Thousands of people are affected across the country including in the capital Nairobi and smaller towns like Kisumu, Busia, Nakuru, Eldoret and Mombasa on Kenya’s eastern coast.

A number of towns are totally cut off, as many major roads are barricaded by various communities denying access to road users. Huge traffic snarl ups around key towns is making it difficult to move relief supplies.

Most affected

Children, women (particularly pregnant women and lactating mothers) and the elderly are the most affected. The holding grounds are mostly the churches, police stations, schools and district officers. There are widespread reports that women, girls and boys have been raped.

Prices soaring

The price of food across the country has soared and in some towns there is no food as roads are still blocked by armed gangs as well as the police.

There is no bread and milk in most supermarkets, the price of fish in Kisumu has tripled, while the price of flour has doubled. Fuel where available outside Nairobi is selling at £1 and in other areas it is going for £2.

The country is in crisis, with little food available, rural areas in affected districts cut off from communication, senseless killings, and widespread destruction of property