Dozens wounded in Kenya clashes
By Bogonko Bosire in Nairobi
28oct05
DOZENS of people were wounded overnight when machete-wielding supporters and opponents of Kenya's draft constitution clashed in the increasingly bitter campaign ahead of next month's referendum, police and witnesses said.
At least six people were arrested and a car belonging to a Kenyan lawmaker was set ablaze during the clash in Kakamega, the seat of Western Province about 30km outside Nairobi.
"A man suffered serious machete injuries on the head and dozens of others were wounded," said regional police commander Jonathan Kosgey.
Witnesses said the violence erupted when supporters of the town's MP Bobby Khalwale, who is campaigning for a "yes" vote in the November 21 referendum, attacked "no" supporters who retaliated, sparking a riot.
Mr Khalwale's car was torched during the fracas although police said they managed to rescue the lawmaker from an angry mob who wanted to attack him and whisked him to an hotel in Kakamega township.
The clashes were the latest in a spate of violent incidents related to the referendum which have seen both "yes" and "no" rallies attacked by rival camps and disintegrate into chair- and fruit-throwing brawls.
They came as the referendum campaign hits full stride amid rising tension and fears of wider violence over the new constitution, the first major change to the country's founding document since independence from Britain in 1963.