The following update was issued by a spokesman from AIM's Nairobi-based Crisis Management Team.

This morning a Member of Parliament, David Kimutai Too, from the ODM party was shot dead.  This murder occurred in Eldoret at midmorning.  Indications are that this was a "crime of passion" caused by a love triangle in which an armed policeman confronted the MP who was accompanied by an alleged shared girlfriend.  Both the MP and the woman died.  The policeman is in custody. A murder investigation is underway.

This news sparked off violent protests and looting in parts of western Kenya.  Mostly affected were the towns of Eldoret, Kericho (the constituency of the late MP), Kisumu and Kapsabet.  These areas were still tense as night fell.

The mediation talks with Koffi Annan started in earnest today, but were interrupted when the news of the MP's death was announced.  They will continue tomorrow morning.  The delegates from both parties continue to express optimism in finding a workable solution to the political impasse.

Tomorrow the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, is expected to arrive in Kenya as he comes to press for peace.

Our missionaries are all safe tonight.

Keep praying for Kenya and her hurting people.

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