War and Conflict Journal

Post-election violence in Kenya escalated as President Mwai Kibaki
claimed victory in the presidential election. As of January 1, 208,
over 250 deaths were reported. International observers, as well as
man Kenyans, claim the election was tainted by voting irregularities
and possibly outright vote fraud.

The first deaths came as protesters took to the streets and police
and troops opened fire. The violence has since escalated into open
battles with clear ethnic divisions, as Kibaki’s Kikuyu supporters
fight against the Luo ethnic group. The losing candidate, Raila
Odinga, is a Luo.

Violence
Grows in Kenya–Wall Street Journal, Jan. 1, 2008