Kenyan gangs seek revenge after MP is killed

"We have now a border," said Fred Ruffi, 24, pointing a metal pole at the line of paramilitary police down the slope separating the two sides. "That is their land, this is ours," he said.

Gangs from different tribes have terrorised Kibera before, but never, residents said, has it been this bad. Talk of revenge is frequent. Both sides cite cases of friends and neighbours killed or raped by the other. No shops or kiosks were open in Kibera yesterday, and schools were closed. The normally busy paths and tracks were empty, save for men with weapons. "They are killing our people," Mr Ruffi said. "Why should we not revenge?" As he spoke, gunfire rang out just yards away as the paramilitary police tried to disperse the crowds by firing in the air. News agencies reported at least seven deaths in Kibera and 12 nationwide.

The death toll since violence broke out following the announcement of Mr Kibaki's re-election on 30 December has reached at least 850. More than 250,000 have been made homeless.

The divide in Kibera has split families and left many homeless. Junior Dunstan and his friend Kevin Bore, both 21, live in the area now "owned" by Kikuyus. They are both Luhyas. "We can't go back to living on that side," Mr Dunstan said. Nor can they go back to college. Both men are 10 months into a year-long catering course, but their classroom is on the other side. "I want to one day own my own restaurant," said Mr Bore, "but this is making things very difficult." The violence in Kibera had been in response to the murder early yesterday of Mugabe Were, a newly elected opposition MP. Mr Odinga said the death was politically motivated.