NAIROBI, Kenya – The crisis in Kenya has shifted from a battle between political groups to a full on ethnic feud between President Mwai Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe and his opponent, Raila Odinga’s Luo tribe. In an effort to escape the violence, thousands of people, mainly Kikuyus, have sought refuge in police stations and churches.

However, even the churches aren’t safe from vigilant gangs. Earlier today, a mob torched a church killing at least 50 people, according to a Red Cross volunteer who helped count the bodies. The Kenya Assemblies of God Pentecostal church, located 5 miles from Eldoret, was harboring a group of Kikuyus. According to witnesses, a group of youths over powered the boys guarding the church and set it on fire.

The gruesome attack is being compared to the slaughter in churches of tens of thousands of victims of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Despite the riots, mounting death toll, and today’s ruthless attack, Odinga insisted he would go on with plans for a march of a million people in the capital Thursday against Kibaki. Odinga accuses Kibaki of stroking the chaos and says it is Kibaki’s administration that “is guilty of genocide.

Most deaths have come from police firing at protesters. At midday, the police estimate the number of deaths to be at 143; however that number is expected to rise by the end of today.

As one of Africa’s most stable democracies and strongest economies fall into complete chaos, January 1, 2008 will be marked as one of Kenya’s darkest moments since its 1963 independence from Britain.

For more information please see:

Yahoo News – Kenya Church Fire Kills 50 Who Fled Mob – 1 January 2008

Reuters: Africa – Massacre at Church, Kenya Death Seen at 250 – 1 January 2008