2008 in Kenya

= Events =

January

*January 1 - Riots in Kenya escalated following the tension after disputed presidential elections. On January 1, 2008 a mob attacked and set fire to a church in the town of Eldoret, where hundreds of people had taken refuge. As a result, at least 30 people, mostly Kikuyus, were burned to death. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7166932.stm "Kenyans burned to death in church"] , BBC News, January 1, 2008.] [http://news.smh.com.au/up-to-50-people-killed-in-kenya-church/20080102-1jt7.html "Up to 50 people killed in Kenya church"] , Associated Press ("Sydney Morning Herald"), January 2, 2007.]
*January 24 - President Mwai Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga met for the first time since the elections. Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General was also present [BBC News, January 24, 2007: [Kenyan rivals meet face-to-face] ] .

February

*February 1 - Government and ODM representatives issue a public statement witnessed by Kofi Annan on the Goal of National Dialogue and Reconciliation [ Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, February 1, 2008: Public Statement - Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation [http://www.hdcentre.org/projects/kenya/statements] ]

April

*April 13 - The new coalition cabinet is finally unveiled [BBC News, April 13, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7345318.stm Kenya unveils coalition cabinet] ] .

June

*June 10 - Four people, including politicians Kipkalya Kones and Lorna Laboso were killed in an aviation accident. They were on board of a Cessna 210 plane that crashed, without survivors BBC News, June 10, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7446832.stm Ministers killed in Kenya crash] ] .
*June 11 - The first parliamentary by-elections in Kenya after the chaotic 2007 general elections were held. Out of five seats constested, ODM won three and PNU two. However, ODM lost the Embakasi Constituency seat to PNU [BBC News, June 12, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7450538.stm ODM wins three Kenya by-elections] ] .

July

*July 8 - Amos Kimunya resigns from his post of Minister of Finance due the Grand Regency Scandal [BBC News July 8, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7495236.stm Minister resigns over Kenya hotel] ] .
*July 31 - Cattle raiders shot around 30 herdsmen at Suguta Valley. The herdsmen were chasing raiders, who had earlier stolen their cattle, but the herdsmen run out of ammunition [Daily Nation, August 2, 2008: [http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/445744/-/6ik7d8/-/index.html Raiders shoot dead 30 herders] ] .

August

*August 11 - The results of Kamukunji Constituency of the 2007 parliamentary elections were not tallied until now due to a court case. Simon Mbugua of PNU was declared the winner [The Standard, August 12, 2008: [http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1143992301&cid=4& Kamukunji: Eyes now shift to Starehe] ] .

*August 13 - a Fokker F27-500 cargo aircraft operated by Fly540. crashed about convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on from the "Namber Konton" airport near Mogadishu, Somalia. All three crew members died. The aircraft was carrying a shipment of miraa (khat). The plane had departed from Wilson Airport in Nairobi [Daily Nation, August 13, 2008: [http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/455550/-/tjnta8/-/index.html Plane crashes in Mogadishu] ] .

September

*September 25 - By-elections were held in Bomet and Sotik constituencies and were won by Beatrice Kones and Joyce Laboso respectively. Both represent ODM, as did their predecessors, who died in an aviation accident in June [KBC, September 26, 2008: [http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=52753 Kones and Laboso win seats] ] .
*September 25 - MV Faina, an Ukrainian ship was seized by Somali pirates off the Somalian coast. The ship was carrying 33 Russian T-72 tanks destined to Kenya [BBC News, September 26, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7637257.stm Somalia's pirates seize 33 tanks] ] .

Deaths

January

*January 1 - Lucas Sang, former olympic athlete, "hacked to death" in Chepkoilel, Eldoret The Standard, January 3, 2007: [http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143979865&catid=39 Poll violence claim former athlete Sang] ] .
*January 2 - G. G. Njuguna Ngengi, Politician, hacked to death in Kuresoi, near Molo on January 2 [The Standard, January 3, 2007: [http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143979848&cid=159 Politician killed in ethnic clashes] ]
*January 20 - Wesley Ngetich Kimutai, 34, marathoner, died after he was shot with an arrow on January 19 in the Trans Mara District [Daily Nation, January 23, 2007: [http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=115182 Kenya loses another athlete to violence] ] .
*January 20 - Donald Odanga, former basketball international was hit by a stray bullet shot by the police [The Standard, January 25, 2008: [http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143980880&cid=2 Basketballer dies in post-election violence] ] .
*January 29 - Mugabe Were, recently elected ODM MP was shot dead in Nairobi [Jeffrey Gettleman, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/world/africa/30kenya.html?hp "Opposition Politician is Killed in Kenya"] , "The New York Times," January 29, 2008] .
*January 29 - David Kimutai Too, recently elected ODM MP was shot dead by a policeman in Eldoret [BBC News, January 31, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7219461.stm Tension after Kenyan MP shot dead] ] .

February

*February 8 - Stephen Arusei Kipkorir, 37, Kenyan long-distance runner was killed in a car crash. [ [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=43329.html 1996 Olympic bronze medallist Stephen Arusei Kipkorir dies in car crash] ]

March

*March 13 - David Mwenje, 55, former MP and assistant minister died of illness. [Daily Nation, March 14, 2008: [http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=119003 Ex-Embakasi MP Mwenje dies] ]

April

*April 4 - Samuel Ndindiri, 59, the National Assembly clerk dies of illness [Daily Nation, April 5, 2008: [Death breaks off Ndindiri’s 34-year career Death breaks off Ndindiri’s 34-year career] ] .
*April 10 - Jeremiah Nyagah, 87, former minister, dies of illness [Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, April 10, 2008: [http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=49347 Jeremiah Nyagah dies] ]

May

*May 3 - Ngugi wa Mirii, 57, playwright, dies in car accident in Harare, Zimbabwe [The Times, June 8, 2008: [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4091190.ece Ngugi wa Mirii: Modern African playwright] ] .
*May 16 - Zachary Gakunju, born 1932, former MP, assistant minister and businessman [Daily Nation, May 18, 2008: [http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=123533 Former Gatundu South MP dies] ] .
*May 16 - Wycliffe Matwakei Komol, 37, the leader of Sabaot Land Defence Force was shot dead by Kenyan Army [Daily Nation, May 25, 2008: [http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=123979 Droves of militia surrender] ] .

June

*June 10 - Politicians Kipkalya Kones and Lorna Laboso were killed in an aviation accident x] .

July

*July 12 - Reinhard Fabisch, former manager of Kenya national football team. The German national died of cancer aged 57.

September

*September 17 - Michael Omondi, former field hockey player and Olympic competitor dies of short illness aged 46.

Sports

January - March

*January 1 - Several new year's road running races were won by Kenyans. Robert Cheruiyot won the Saint Silvester Road Race in Brazil and Patrick Ivuti finished second. Alice Timbilili won the women's race [IAAF, January 1, 2008: [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=42782.html Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Timbilil beat the heat in São Paulo] ] . San Silvestre Vallecana race in Spain was won by Kiprono Menjo and Vivian Cheruiyot respectively [IAAF, January 2, 2008: [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=42797.html Menjo, Cheruiyot the victors in Madrid] ] . Edwin Soi and Sylvia Kibet were the winners of Boclassic Silvesterlauf race in Bolzano, Italy [IAAF, January 1, 2008: [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=42781.html Soi, Kibet take Bolzano victories] ] . Micah Kogo won Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles race in France, setting a new course record [IAAF, January 1, 2008: [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=42776.html Kogo sets course record in Houilles] ] .
*February 9-10 - Kenyan national rugby sevens team reaches main cup semifinal at the 2008 USA Sevens.
*March 19 - Jason Dunford and Janeth Jepkosgei won the 2007 Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year awards for men and women, respectively The Standard, March 20, 2008: " [http://www.eastandard.net/archives/index.php?mnu=details&id=1143983188&catid=247 Dunford, Jepkosgei Soya Winners] "] .
*March 6-9 - The 2007 Kenya Open golf tournament held at Karen Golf Club in Nairobi was won by Iain Pyman of England [European Tour, March 9, 2008: [http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pageid=127&pagegid=%7BAEFB93B0%2DEFF5%2D4C05%2DAB0F%2DFD08D947D944%7D&eventid=2008710&reportid=61635 Hot Pyman wins the Tusker Kenya Open] ] .

April - June

*April 13 - Martin Lel beats the course record winning London Marathon for the third time. Samuel Wanjiru finished close second. William Kipsang won the Rotterdam Marathon, also setting a new course record.
*April 21 - Robert Cheruiyot won Boston Marathon for the fourth time.
*April 30-May 4 - The 2008 African Championships in Athletics were held in Ethiopia. Kenya won a total of 16 medals, five of them golden. The Kenyan gold medalists were David Rudisha (800m), Haron Keitany (1500m), Richard Mateelong (3000m steeplechase), Pamela Chelimo (800m) and Grace Wanjiru (20km walk).
*May 4 - Kenya prisons wins the 2008 Women’s African Clubs Championship in volleyball [The Standard, may 6, 2008: [http://eastandard.net/sports/?id=1143986100&cid=2 Prisons women’s volleyballers clinch Africa Club title] ] .

*May 31 - June 22 - Kenya national football team plays four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier matches over four consecutive weekends, losing to Namibia away, winning Guinea and Zimbabwe at home and drawing with Zimbabwe away.
*June 1 - 18-year old Pamela Jelimo runs a new women's 800 metres African Record. The previous one was held by Maria de Lurdes Mutola of Mozambique IAAF, June 1, 2008: [http://www.iaaf.org/GLE08/news/newsid=45140.html Berlin witnesses Jelimo, 800m revelation] ] .
*June 22, 2008: Kenya wins the 2008 edition of Safari Sevens. In the final, Kenya beat Emerging Springboks 31-12 [ [http://www.safarisevens.com/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/176-lucky-13-as-kenya-regains-tusker-safari-sevens Safari Sevens website] ] .
*June 27 - 29 - The 2008 Safari Rally was won by Lee Rose, former Kenyan champion [Automobilsport.com, July 5, 2008: [http://www.automobilsport.com/irc-safari-rally-lee-rose-wins-piers-daykin-mitsubishi-lancer-evo9---40278.html Lee Rose wins Safari Rally] ] .

July - September

*July 8-13 - The 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics were held in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Kenya finished third in the medals table by winning four gold medals, five silver and three bronze. Kenyan gold medalists were Josphat Bett (10,000m men), Jonathan Muia (3,000m SC men), Mercy Cherono (3,000m women) and Christine Kambua (3,000m SC women).
*July 27 - Tusker FC wins the 2008 edition of CECAFA Clubs Cup.
*August 2-5 - Kenya fails at the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
*August 8-24 - The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in Beijing, China. Kenya got a medal record of 5-5-4. All Kenyan medalist were athletes. The gold medalists were Wilfred Bungei (800m men), Brimin Kipruto (steeplechase men), Samuel Wanjiru (marathon men), Pamela Jelimo (800m women) and Nancy Lagat (1500m women)
*September 5 - Pamela Jelimo wins the IAAF Golden League jackpot
*September 6 - Kenya wins a 2010 World Cup Qualifier against Namibia at home.
*September 9-12 - The Women’s junior African Nations Championship in volleyball was held in Kenya. The tournament was won by Egypt, while Kenya finished third out of five participants [African Volleyball Confederation [http://www.cavb.org/competitions/2008/WomenjuniorAfricanNationsChampionship/News.html 2008 Women’s junior African Nations Championship] ]

See also

*2007 in Kenya

References