Politics

Death toll rises to over 350.

04 Jan, 2008

Over 350 Kenyans have died in the violence that has swept the country since the disputed presidential, parliamentary and local government elections of 27 December according to a tally kept by the news agency AFP based on police, hospital and mortuary statistics. In addition thousands of people have been injured, hundreds arrested and property worth thousands of dollars destroyed.

However, these figures are only the tip of the iceberg; the United Nations (UN) has said in a statement that between 400,000 and 500,000 people out of a total population of 37 million have been directly affected by the violence, including an estimated 250,000 people who have been displaced from their homes. Most are now camping in makeshift shelters, churches and other public spaces where they are in need of food, water and other basic necessities.

The areas worst hit are Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley provinces, where the UN Children