(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-15 19:50

NAIROBI - Kenyan authorities said they are investigating more than 200 prominent personalities believed to have funded or instigated the post-election violence in Kenya.

The police said some of the suspects have been arraigned in court while others are being sought by police for various offenses.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said in a statement received here Friday that the suspects include politicians, church leaders and business people, who were said to have either sponsored or incited people to commit atrocities that have left nearly 1,000 people dead and over 600,000 others displaced.

Kiraithe said some of those under investigation had been summoned to write statements, while others were still at large.

"It is a broad-based investigation, which is aimed at bringing justice in the country. Our officers have managed to catch up with some of them but others are still on the run," he said.

The police have already released photographs of more than 100 of those said to be at large and offered handsome rewards to anyone with credible information on their whereabouts. Some of the photographs were released a week ago while others were released late Thursday.

"We are appealing for assistance from the public. Any information will be treated with utmost confidence," he said. He said the police were documenting evidence against the suspects, who will be arraigned in court as soon as the probes are completed.

Kiraithe did not reveal the names of the prominent personalities under probe. He said photographs published in the local media a week ago had yielded fruit and led to the arrest of more than 50 other suspects.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki was formally declared the winner, but supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) argued that the count was rigged, which sparked fierce violence.

More than 1,000 people have been killed while 600,000 others displaced in the ensuing violence between rival ethnic groups.