Posted on 06/14/2010 3:50:18 PM PDT by Iron Munro
NAIROBI, Kenya — Two explosions ripped through a park in Kenya's capital during a packed political rally late Sunday, killing five people and wounding 75, officials said.
The rally was held to protest a draft constitution the country will vote on in August. The country's president and prime minister support it, but several prominent political leaders do not.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga said that officials don't know the cause of the blasts but that they wounded 75 people. Dr. Charles Kabetu of Kenya's national hospital said five people had died.
"I want to say clearly that the government will do everything possible to get to the root of this incident. We must condemn this," Odinga said. "Kenyans can decide peacefully what they want" concerning the constitution.
The campaign against the draft constitution opposes a clause that would allow abortion to save a mother's life. Opponents also don't like a clause that would recognize informal courts used by Kenya's Islamic community.
A prominent backer of the campaign against the draft, William Ruto, the minister of higher education, called the attack "the darkest hour of our nation." He said the explosions would not deter the campaign against the draft constitution.
"Innocent blood has been shed by people with evil desires, and we are calling upon the police to take action," Ruto said. "The decision of whether we are going to have a new constitution or not belongs to the people of Kenya, and they have the right to say this or not. Those of us who are saying 'no' have committed no crime."
The blast took place in Uhuru Park, a wide expanse of green space in the middle of downtown Nairobi. Hundreds of people attended the rally.
Witnesses said that the first blast was at the back of the crowd and that a speaker on the podium told the crowd to move toward the front, fearing an electrical blast. But minutes later a second blast took place toward the front of the crowd, wounding dozens more people.
Steve Odhiambo, a 28-year-old mechanical engineer, said rally participants were taking part in a prayer when the first explosion occurred. Darkness was setting in and the rally was just about to finish.
"I was about 50 yards from the blast, and I saw one person who had his lower body blasted off," Odhiambo said while wearing surgical gloves after helping take a woman to a hospital. The woman died of her wounds.
O-bam-a, boom-ay-yay!
was it a man-caused disaster?
Chicago politics!
“Prime Minister Raila Odinga said that officials don’t know the cause of the blasts but that they wounded 75 people.”
Yeah, sure.
Didnt 0bama campain for Odinga and didnt he have murder and mayhem then?
No doubt the courts that the bombers would expect to be tried in -- and exhonerated by.
They can rest easy. We’ll soon be sending their village idiot back to lead them.
We’ll see that here in November.
LLS
Chopping off a head with a panga is soooo tiring.
Mau Mau then, Mau Mau now.
The return of Colonial Africa to pre-white savagery continues unabated.
Quite fitting it occured in "Uhuru Park", Uhuru meaning 'Freedom' as it was understood by the natives.
Since we have a Kenyan president, we woud be moraly obligated to help them if they have a civil war.
I guess we would side with Obama and the Muslims.
Kenya Christian Leaders Forum
Frequently Asked Questions on Contentious Issues in the Constitution Review Process
16. Should Kenyans reject the draft constitution just because it has Kadhis Courts?
Yes. If you had a soda with a small amount of poison, would you drink it?
Let us not be deceived by people who either do not have the interest of Kenya at heart or are unable to see divisiveness of this issue.
If they are serious and want us to accept the new constitution, let them delete all references to the Kadhis Court in the constitution.
17. Is it true that the Bill of Rights shall not apply to Muslims?
Yes. Muslims are the only Kenyans who are allowed to violate the Bill of Rights.
Kenyans should not allow this to happen.
Let every Kenyan be equal before the law of the land and particularly the Bill of Rights.
18. If Christians succeed in rejecting the Kadhis Court, will the Muslims unleash violence?
No. Christians and Kenyans in general should not allow themselves to be manipulated and intimidated by the threat of violence.
Kenya is a democracy, Muslims must argue with ideas and the ballot box, not violence.
In any case, it is hoped that Muslims in Kenya are peace loving and will respect the decision of Kenyans.
The threat by some Muslim leaders to secede from Kenya is a matter that the security forces are able to handle.
Kadhis Courts? (Sharia Courts)
So Obama supports “the Yes team” on new Kenyan constitution, EVEN THOUGH these Kadhis Courts are still in there?
These courts were recently declared illegal, but they will become legal if new constitution passes.
Higher Education minister William Ruto has termed the suspension of assistant Roads minister Wilfred Machage over hate speech charges as a “dangerous” trend.
Ethnic hatred
Dr Machage, who is also the Kuria MP, faces four counts of uttering words likely to stir ethnic hatred during the launch of the No secretariat at Nairobi’s Upper Hill last week.
“We have to amend the constitution before it is passed into law, otherwise, we are putting the country on a slippery road,” said Mr Ruto.
“A constitution is supposed to allay fears of the citizens, not create them.”
However, Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki, who had accompanied him at the function, said hate speech mongers should face the law.
“Let’s learn to tolerate each other, but whoever is engaging in hate speech, let him face the law.”
Mr Ruto represents the political face of the No campaign against the proposed constitution, and his grouping is joined by the Church in pursuit of defeating the document at the August 4 referendum.
The No camp is opposes provisions on land, abortion and kadhi courts.
***
kadhi courts are sharia courts
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