CATHEDRAL; HEARSE ARRIVING FIGHTING BREAKS OUT; KENYATTA ARRIVES; TEAR-GAS FIRED; CATHEDRAL CEREMONY; CROWD FIGHTING OUTSIDE; KENYATTA LEAVES; INJURED ON ROAD.




Initials



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Background: POLICE AND TROOPS FOUGHT WITH MORE THAN 20,000 KENYAN DEMONSTRATORS AS VIOLENCE BROKE OUT IN NAIROBI DURING A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ASSASSINATED CABINET MINISTER MR. TOM MBOYA YESTERDAY (TUESDAY). AT ONE STAGE, TROOPS WERE FORCED TO USE TEAR-GAS ON RIOTERS THROWING STONES AT THE CAR OF PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA.

FIGHTING ERUPTED OUTSIDE THE COURTYARD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY FAMILY, SOON AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF THE HEARSE CARRYING THE BODY OF MR. MBOYA.

THE CROWD MILLED AROUND AS THE WIDOW OF MR. MBOYA MADE HER WAY INTO THE CATHEDRAL FOR THE SERVICE.

SHORTLY AFTER, PRESIDENT KENYATTA ARRIVED AND THE CROWD BECAME MORE VIOLENT. MANY OF THEM WERE LUO FELLOW-TRIBESMEN OF MR. MBOYA.

NAIROBI'S PARA-MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE UNIT IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO ACTION AND FIRED TEAR-GAS INTO THE CROWD. POLICE, WIELDING BATONS AND CANES, HELPED DRIVE THE CROWD BACK.

INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL, PRESIDENT KENYATTA SAT SILENTLY AMONG MOURNERS, WHO WERE SHOWING THE EFFECTS OF THE TEAR-GAS AND THE SOLEMNITY OF THE OCCASION.

AFTER THE SERVICE, GENERAL RIOTING BROKE OUT AGAIN. POLICE ORDERED THE DOORS OF THE CATHEDRAL TO BE CLOSED AS THOUSANDS OF LUOS RUSHED FORWARD TO SEE MR. MBOYA'S BODY AS IT LAY IN STATE.

MOUNTED POLICEMEN RODE INTO THE CROWD, AND THE POLICE AND TROOPS WENT INTO ACTION AGAIN TO SCATTER THE DEMONSTRATORS.

LATER, KENYA'S VICE-PRESIDENT, MR. DANIEL ARAP MOI, WARNED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE SWIFT ACTION AGAINST ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO ???.