Gap widens between Kenyan factions

By Grant Ferrett
BBC News, Nairobi

The Kenyan opposition started Thursday in high spirits.

Residents struggled to put out buildings set alight on Thursday

Its supporters insisted they would march to their rally at Uhuru Park - uhuru means freedom in Swahili - in spite of a police ban. But it was the security forces who got their way.

The opposition postponed the demonstration when it became clear that they simply could not reach Uhuru Park.

A pattern emerged from early in the morning. Groups of opposition youths, some of them numbering in the hundreds, tried to find ways into the city centre.

I saw no sign of any carrying weapons. Many waved branches symbolising, they said, their peaceful intentions.

But they also chanted a slogan: "No Raila, No Peace!" They referred, of course, to the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, the man they believe was cheated of victory in last week's election.

Air of instability

Each time the protesters got close to Uhuru Park, they were turned back by riot police.

At several locations around Nairobi I watched the police use tear gas and water cannon. One protester, who appeared to have a broken arm, told me he had been beaten by the police.

Protests have been widespread in Kenya since polling day

At another spot, just a few metres from the park, mounted police baton-charged opposition protesters and officials who were holding an impromptu news conference.

The clash took place directly in front of one of Nairobi's expensive international hotels. It was not a good advertisement for Kenya's tourism industry, one of the country's big employers and an important source of foreign currency.

The opposition decision to postpone the rally was a recognition of reality. But the announcement that it will try to bring its supporters out in large numbers on another day adds to the air of instability.

There is little chance that the authorities will allow any large opposition gathering to take place in the immediate future in central Nairobi.

Addressing the nation, President Mwai Kibaki said he would be ready for dialogue once the nation was calm. He was clearly stating that security comes first.

Confrontation postponed

The opposition is not about to give any ground either.

A spokesman said the president's speech made no difference. He said Mr Kibaki either needed to allow international mediation to resolve the crisis, or acknowledge that the election result was fraudulent and step down.

The president is not about to do that, and has made clear he does not want outsiders involved in what he sees as an internal matter.

With the opposition threatening further protests, the confrontation surrounding the outcome of Kenya's presidential election has not ended, it has just been postponed.