Kenya police disperse food protesters

Food prices have risen sharply in the region's biggesteconomy since a political crisis over a disputed election ledto food shortages.

Annual inflation rose to 26.6 percent in April from 21.8percent in March because of food prices.

"The government must subsidize the cost of food, it is notfair for the poor to be suffering with high food prices yet thegovernment has not increased salaries," said Tom Aosa, one ofthe organizers.

Several protesters were bundled into police cars during themarch. Nairobi's police chief Tito Kilonzi said thedemonstration was illegal. Four people were arrested, he toldreporters.

The marchers carried placards urging the government toslash the cost of maize flour, a Kenyan staple, to 30 shillings(24 pence) from the current 80 shillings.

"On Monday (a public holiday) your families will eatchicken, meat, and chapattis, what do you expect us to eat, ifwe cannot afford to make Ugali, leaves?" shouted one angryprotester.

Sharp hikes for essential food and fuel have triggeredriots and protests in African countries from neighboringSomalia to Cameroon and Senegal in West Africa.

In Kenya, violence after President Mwai Kibaki's disputedelection last December killed more then 1,200 and displaced300,000 others, while maize in granaries and on farms was setablaze.

Kibaki has ordered the state cereals board to import threemillion bags of maize for the country as the agriculturalsector gets back on its feet.

(Writing by Wangui Kanina)

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