The British High Commissioner to Kenya was called in for a dressing down by the country’s Foreign Minister yesterday in a sign of increasing tension between the two countries over last month’s disputed elections.

Adam Wood was asked to explain why ministers in London have said they will not recognise the government of President Mwai Kibaki.

Raila Odinga, the main opposition leader, accuses President Kibaki of stealing the election.

Last week Meg Munn, Foreign Office minister, told the House of Commons: “Our Government have not recognised the [Kenyan] Government and are calling on both leaders to co-operate in a process of mediation.” Her comments received widespread coverage in the Kenyan media and provoked accusations that the country’s former colonial ruler was meddling in affairs that no longer concerned it.

She was echoing remarks made by David Miliband, Foreign Secretary, in an interview broadcast on BBC Radio 4, a week earlier.

Diplomats fear that President Kibaki may try to exploit frosty relations with Britain in order to shore up his own position, much as Robert Mugabe has done in Zimbabwe.

Yesterday Moses Wetangula, the Kenyan Foreign Minister, said he had met with Mr Wood to express his dissatisfaction.

“The minister of Her Majesty’s Government has no business saying the things she said, particularly after her own boss said something different,” said Mr Wetangula after the meeting.

“Our elections do not need a stamp of authority from the House of Commons.” He added that Mr Wood had offered to seek clarification on Britain’s position from London.

Kenya has come under mounting international pressure over its presidential election and a heavyhanded crackdown against opposition supporters who believe the polls were rigged.

About 650 people have died in clashes since President Kibaki was sworn in for a controversial second term three weeks ago.

Political demonstrations have rekindled simmering ethnic tension in some parts of the country and turned slums into no-go areas.

Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations, is due to arrive in Kenya today as part of an international mediation effort.

The US, EU and other major donors have warned there can be no “business as usual” while the two sides remain deadlocked over peace talks, and have declined to offer President Kibaki congratulations on the result.

The opposition is planning a new round of street rallies on Thursday calling for a rerun of the ballot and is asking its supporters to boycott companies owned by Kibaki allies.

There was also fresh violence at the weekend.

In the worst incident, 22 people in a Rift Valley aid camp were reported dead after being attacked by mobs armed with machetes.

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