Kenyans demonstrate in Washington against post election crisis in Kenya

    Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 14:05:32 -0500
    From: Bella Akinyi

In the wake of the violence which erupted in Kenya after the announcement of the presidential elections' results, about 200 Kenyans from all over the United States and Canada converged to Washington DC on Wednesday to stage a peaceful protest in front of the Kenyan embassy in Washington.

The protestors, chanting and holding signs and banners, braved the cold and strong winds at 10am to raise their voices against "the flaws of the elections, the post elections violence, the human rights violations and ban on the media in Kenya".

The protestors also demanded that President Mwai Kibaki "respects the will of the people and steps down".

They also demanded the immediate resignation of the Internal Security minister Mr. John Michuki and condemned the difficulties the humanitarian organizations face as they try to access the victims of violence in the affected areas.

The demonstrators also demanded that the Kenyan people were given the right to organize a peaceful demonstration in Kenya on January Thursday 3rd 2008 in order to avoid further unrest.

The demonstration, organized by the Kenyans in the Diaspora USA Pressure Group was attended by representatives of various Kenyan ethnic groups but also by American supporters and by-passers.

The Kenyan ambassador to the US, Mr. Peter Ogego sent out an official to let the demonstrators know that he was not going to meet with them.

Escorted by the DC police, the demonstrators then headed to the US State Department where they handed an official from the East African Affairs (EAA) a letter of protest to be delivered to the proper authorities at the State Department in order to review the group's concerns.

The demonstrators then walked and gathered in front of the White House where they chanted slogans in support of Raila Odinga.

The demonstration ended at the starting point at the Kenya embassy as the protestors mounted their banners at the embassy entrance.

Similar demonstrations are planned in the United Kingdom and Canada for Friday, January 4, 2008.