The anniversary of Kenya's contested general election has turned violent, with reports emerging of at least a dozen dead in clashes between police and opposition supporters in Nairobi's Kibera slum. The British High Commission has issued an urgent security alert, urging British nationals to avoid the area and warning of potential further unrest.
Sources close to the High Commission tell me the alert was issued after intelligence pointed to a planned escalation by hardline elements within the opposition. The violence marks the worst single day of unrest since the election, which the opposition alleges was rigged.
This is a major embarrassment for the government of President William Ruto, who had boasted of a 'new dawn' of stability. The events will undoubtedly fuel concerns in Whitehall about the fragility of Kenya's democracy. A Foreign Office source confided that the High Commission is bracing for a prolonged period of tension.
Back in London, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee is likely to demand an urgent statement from the minister for Africa. The government will be wary of being seen to interfere, but the optics of British nationals potentially caught in the crossfire will force their hand.
The real question now is whether Ruto can hold the line. His coalition is fractious, and the opposition, led by Raila Odinga, smells blood. The next 48 hours are critical.
