By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Today marked the third and last day of Raila Odinga’s three-day nationwide protest. It was also the bloodiest day of the protest.  At least 13 protesters died today and more than 30 since the rally began on Wednesday.

The worst violence took place in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, where six people died and more than ten others were wounded by police gunfire. The French charity MSF called today a massacre. Police and protesters played cat and mouse games with automatic weapons as relatives collected bodies in the street. A 15-year-old girl, Rosa Otieno, was shot and killed as she washed utensil, according to her mother.

According to witnesses, police shot and killed two protesters in Mombasa, Kenya’s Indian Ocean port. Officials have only confirmed one death.

In a released statement Human Rights Watch said the police were responsible for the death of dozens of people. An unofficial “shoot to kill” policy allegedly authorizes police to open fire on looters and protesters.

In southwest Kenya, five bodies of the Kikuyu ethnic group were found with arrow and machete wounds. The Narok town has been center of clashes between President Mwai Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe and Maasai anti-government protesters.

Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) political party organized the nationwide protest after the government refused to entertain mediation by outside powers, like former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Kibaki insists he won the election, although Odinga, along with several Western nations, believe the election was rigged. About 650 people have died since the disputed December presidential election.

After three days of bloodshed, the Odinga and his party has decided to employ a new strategy. After witnessing today’s bloody clash between ethnic groups and the police’s use of the country as a “killing field”, Odinga says he will continue to pressure the government but in another manner. The ODM announced a plan to begin an economic boycott.

Kenya had the most stable government in East Africa, it’s swift slide into chaos has tarnished its democratic credentials. Kenya also has the biggest economy in East Africa and an economic boycott will only hurt the country and its people.

For more information please see:

BBC – Kenya Protesters to Mount Boycott – 18 January 2008

Yahoo News – At Least 13 Dead in Day of Kenya Protests – 18 January 2008

Reuters: Africa – Kenya Opposition Vows More Pressure – 18 January 2008