The United States has issued a warning to Americans about the dangers of traveling to Kenya due to a recent surge in political violence. Since President Mwai Kibaki's controversial re-election on Dec. 27, 850 people have been killed in political and ethnic violence in the country. The killing of an opposition legislator has sparked new protests and clashes. The State Department has described the situation in Kenya as volatile and subject to sudden change, with some U.S. officials being temporarily relocated from Kisumu to Nairobi. Recent protests and unrest in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Naivasha have highlighted the potential for spontaneous violence in the current political climate. The alert advised American citizens to refrain from traveling to certain cities and regions outside Nairobi. It also cautioned American travelers to be ready for potential clashes between police and protestors or rival groups of protestors. The alert emphasized that even peaceful demonstrations could escalate into violence, so Americans were advised to steer clear of all protests, demonstrations, and large public gatherings.