Nakuru (Kenya): Sporadic gunshots sounded today in a main Rift Valley city as Kenyans forced from their homes by post election ethnic violence threatened to seek revenge. Streets were strewn with bodies slashed by machetes and pierced by arrows.

Hundreds of homes were burned down in Nakuru, regional capital in the Rift Valley, which has seen some of the worst clashes between members of President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe and other groups, who accuse the President of stealing December 27 elections. The Kikuyu are resented for their domination of politics and the economy.

Police brought 16 charred bodies to the Nakuru mortuary today, some missing limbs. Some appeared to have other wounds as well. Police would not say where they came from. Witnesses had reported seeing 12 bodies on Friday in Nakuru, but the complete toll was unclear. Men at the mortuary sobbed as the bodies were taken away.

"We are planning revenge, we are searching for weapons," said 23-year-old Njenga, who didn't want his last name used for fear of reprisals. He was among hundreds of people taking refuge at the Catholic church of Nakuru after their homes were reduced to smoldering rubble. Nakuru, a city of 300,000, had until now been spared the political violence.

Soldiers began patrolled the streets after fighting broke out late on Thursday, and a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed. A barrier of rocks and wood blocked a main road today.

Source : PTI