ELECTIONS WATCH 2007

Stop Electoral Violence! 24th - 30th November, 2007

Issue No 3 PeaceNet - A PeaceNet - Kenya electoral violence reduction project, 2007

Introduction Western Dear Partners , ♦ Two people shot dead in Chekoya, Mt Elgon in situations PeaceNet - Kenya, launched an ‘Election Violence Reduction viewed to be related with the forthcoming elections. project on Monday, 12th November 2007 in , at a PeaceNet Regional Coordinator’s consultative meeting. ♦ In Mumias District, ODM and ODM - K party campaigns are being disrupted by rowdy PNU youth supporters. It is alleged This is the third edition in a series of weekly updates that is informing they are supported by Mr. Nyorotso, (former Kenya Sugar partners of unfolding events during the elections and mobilizing Board official). The Mumias District Peace Committee has stakeholders for interventions. arranged to meet with him. ♦ Crude weapons were found in a campaign vehicle of the RED FLAG outgoing Bumula Member of parliament Mr. Wakoli Bifwoli .

There is concerns over politicians ferrying crude weapons in unclear circumstances. Assistant minister for Water Mr. Raphael Wanjala’s South Rift vehicle was impounded in Naivasha town ferrying crude weapons. In another incident, a vehicle belonging to the outgoing Bumula ♦ On Tuesday 27th November 2007 at Ongata Rongai, Member of Parliament Mr. Wakoli Bifwoli was intercepted carrying Kajiado North Constituency, supporters of Mr. David Maina youths who were armed with crude weapons. and Mr. John Arap Sitonik , rival civic aspirants from Kajiado North constituency, clashed during a PNU rally convened by Violence in Mt Elgon and Molo is escalating resulting into internally the areas immediate former MP Prof. George Saitoti displaced people migrating to adjacent towns.

Nyanza Central

♦ On 24th November 2007, in Ruiru town, , ♦In , tension resulting from irregularities supporters of the immediate former Member of Parliament during party nominations and colluding of party officials with Mr. William Kabogo interrupted presentation of party party aspirants in issuance of party nomination certificates was nomination papers of Mr. George Thuo the winning PNU witnessed during the concluded party nominations. ECK aspirant. Officers in Bonchari, intervened by rejecting aspirants who ♦ Bribery of voters was witnessed in constituency, colluded with party officials to rig the nominations. Loosing at Kambi and Heho polling stations during candidates have since defected to other smaller parties. This party nominations. could heighten tension during elections. ♦ In , incidents of bribery were ♦Nyanza PeaceNet Regional Coordinator has approached witnessed in Mioro. Immediate former MP Joseph Kamotho church leaders to convene a forum with Electoral is believed to have given out Ksh 50, 000 and in Kirimahiga, Commission of Kenya (ECK) on issues of hate speech and an elderly man was injured as result of the scuffle when Mr. allegedly double registration in Bonchari constituency Kioni (aspirant) gave out Ksh 20, 000. ♦On 20th November 2007, Bamachoge constituency Misesi Location. Hate speeches by aspirants resulted to fracas that was characterized by throwing of stones by party supporters.

Contacts: PeaceNet Kenya; enhancing a pervading culture of Peace Peace and Development Network Contacts: [email protected] It isn't enough to talk about peace, one must believe it. PeaceP o Box and 49806 Development - 00100 Network [email protected] 2725270 / 1, 2053797 And it isn't enough to believe in it, one must work for it. PNairobi o Box 49806 - 00100 2725270 / 1, 2053797 - Eleanor Roosevelt Nairobi

ELECTIONS WATCH 2007

Lower Eastern Upper Eastern

♦ Tension caused by the just concluded party nominations in ♦ Igembe South constituency; inter-clan tension involving Mjini ward, Machakos Town Constituency, still prevalent in clans living in the upper zone of the constituency and the area. The Local Imam has been requested to intercede those living on the lower plains is believed to be during Friday prayers whilst the chairman of the local politically motivated. Muslim community has been requested to intervene within ♦ In Igembe South constituency, there is concern over the community. vote buying by the immediate former MP at KShs. 1000

per card. This is happening in Kiegoi and Njia North Rift Locations. ♦ 30th November 2007, the immediate former MP Nicolas ♦ In , secret clan meetings and vote Biwott and his agents were alleged to have bribed teachers buying at between Kshs. 100 - 500 per vote is being from his who had converged at witnessed. kaptagat hotel to strategize on his campaign. Each teacher took home kshs.1000. A total of Kshs 685,000 is believed to have been distributed. North Eastern ♦ PNU and ODM supporters clashed on 27th November 2007 as Immediate former MP Gatundu South, Mr. Uhuru ♦ Support for major political parties in North Eastern has Kenyatta was campaigning at ziwa shopping centre, Uasin adopted clan alignment dimensions across all Gishu. Several people were injured during the incident constituencies accelerating tension. while traders lost their goods. Police intervened to calm ♦ Clan rivalry as a result of ODM nominations still evident the situation. in . ♦ Leaflets defaming ODM presidential aspirant Raila Odinga were circulated in Tambach, Baringo. Four people suspected to be linked with government officials were Central Rift arrested in connection with the leaflets. ♦ Defection of C.Yano from ODM to ODM - K has sparked clan rivalry. Outgoing MP of Marakwet, Hon Jebii Kilimo ’s ♦In the past three weeks, eleven (11) people have been campaign posters destroyed on 27th November 2007 in killed in Kuresoi and on 30th November 2007, fracas areas hostile to her.. erupted in Molo town between two Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities living in the area. Houses were burnt down Nairobi and this prompted demonstrations by irate members of ♦ Propaganda leaflets circulated in Nairobi especially public who accuse the police of arresting members of presidential aspirants of ODM and PNU. one community leaving out the other. Total of 60 persons ♦ Politicians continue to propagate hate speech. Kenya were arrested. There was a meeting convened by ECK National Commission on Human Rights, Boss Mr. Maina peace committee on 3rd December 2007 to address the Kiai has condemned these hate speech. issue

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Contacts: Peace and Development Network Contacts: [email protected] PeaceP o Box and 49806 Development - 00100 Network [email protected] 2725270 / 1, 2053797 PeaceNet Kenya; enhancing a pervading culture of Peace PNairobi o Box 49806 - 00100 2725270 / 1, 2053797 It isn't enough to talk about peace, one must believe it. Nairobi And it isn't enough to believe in it, one must work for it.