By Anon.
In the chaos since the new years’ announcement that there is violence in Kenya, I have barely slept here in the U.S, nor am I at peace regarding the safety of Kenya. I am young enough to remember the Njoroge, Onyango, Chebet and Ali names in the primary school reader books that proposed an attitude of acceptance of different communities to us as school children.
With every gory story, I remembered home and shed tears.Wasn’t it just after Christmas, when I marveled with other Kenyans over how integrated we were and how ready we were to embrace a leader of any tribe? I must have misread things grossly.
I have devoured every image and article that I could get my hands on since the first reports came out. I was dissatisfied with the simplifications that emerged about it being a Kikuyu-Luo issue, and the haste to throw around terms such as genocide, when the ethnic clashes of the past were called ‘ethnic clashes’
Living with many people who have visited Kenya, I fielded questions over whether I was Kikuyu or Luo and for many here I saw the extent of their perception of all Africans as skin-clad, warring African tribesmen. Worse still, I was upset that we were lumped together as ‘ errant’ Africans unable to solve our own issues, and the pity party for Kenya with its “pooh poohs” over warring tribesmen went on.
In any case, world famous or not, visitors to your house cannot adjudicate family issues, and people from elsewhere cannot tell us what is best for us. Where are our ever present civil society activists and our own mediators?
My people remain safe, mercifully, but I am afraid of what the politicians will let the mobs accomplish. Neither man has led calls for a humanitarian arms surrender outright, and they have proved to us that politicking trumps concern for the ordinary man.
Sadly, the events of the last week reveal that we are far from near unity. You cannot choose where you are born, but Kenyans are choosing to reject leaders whose sole agenda is to divide us. Our fight continues against the few who seek to divide our Kenya.
As a university student with pals at Baraton, my heart goes out to them as the campus remains under lock down.
Kenyans should be aware of calling for fresh elections between Raila and Kibaki. If Kalonzo is not in the race and which may not be the case the votes from Ukambani go to Kibaki and therefore Kibaki may emerge the victor. A lot of people from all communities voted Raila for change, but with what has been done to them, being displaced, raped, beaten etc. they will not vote and if they do definitely not for Raila. His name has been tainted and it is lame for him to accuse Mungiki for the violence. We saw it in the news and there is no way any Mungiki member will go shouting ODM!! Let’s stop blaming, but ODM please look for other options other than another poll, you might be out again. Peace!
I just wanted to voice my agreement with your disappointment at how the conflict in Kenya has been portrayed in the Western media–just as every other African conflict is seen, a base ethnic and tribal affair.
There are photographs of the violence, but none of the many Kenyans who have got together to march for peace and to fight for unity. There are a lot of inspiring stories of people reaching across tribes to help rebuild the country. If only that were conveyed in such “reputable” news agencies as the BCC and CNN.
In fact, I have found the Kenyan media itself to be the most inspiring. I was particularly impressed when, on Thursday, the major newspapers all put aside their traditional rivalries and published the same headline calling for peace.
I am American, but have been living in Kenya working with the Media Institute in Nairobi. If only my own media could be as enlightened.
Wannie it is interesting that you feel that way about the run off. As a Kenyan living in Kenya, I can tell you that alot of people squarely blame Kibaki for the rigging and the post election violence. He has ashamed us in a way no other head of state has ever done. He was even sworn in in the middle of the night in secret without the national anthem being sung. If you think this is the man that people will be glad to vote for them I will be waiting after casting my vote eagerly to escort him to Othaya and tell you that you are soo wrong on this one. All in all we are all entitled to our opinion.
While reelection may not happen, it would be a sure way to decide the real winner coz if you recall, the crux of the issue is people felt the current leader stole the election. If Kalonzo’s votes go to Kibaki or people have a change of heart, then we’ll have a clear winner (I believe that’s what people are wanting).
My hangout in Nairobi was “Gypy’s” Bar in Westland, where my Kenyan friends used to empathize with me over the misery of the unending war in the Congo… Now Kenya is following in the footpath of the Congo. Strangely, here in America, hope comes in the person of a Kenyan: Senator Barack Obama, whose Kenyan grandmother was featured today on CNN from her village. Let’s pray the same kind of hope would soon dawn on Kenya.
I would like to agree with Eleanor. I too have been saddened by the way the international media has turned Kenya’s post-election crisis into an ethnic conflict.
Some media houses e.g. the BBC have even accompanied their reports with maps showing geo-ethnic positions of Kenyan people. I have also been sickened by the charts showing the various percentages of Kenya’s ethnic groups to “enlighten” readers on the “cause” of the conflict.
It is important for the international community to desist from boiling down diverse African problems into crude ethnic equations if lasting solutions are ever to be found.
I would like to draw the attention of Kenyan Pundit readers to the online editions (or print if you can get a copy) of the Daily Nation and the Standard of January 8. The will help lift your sense of hope:
a) President John Kufuor of Ghana is on his way to Kenya to lead mediation effots.
b) The U.K. and U.S. are emphasizing the importance of mediation efforts resulting in significant constitutional and attendant institutional changes to safe guard democracy i.e. the mediation efforts are not just about power sharing.
c) LSK has stripped S. Kivuitu of their 2006 honour in light of the way he conducted himself during the tallying exercise…I’m not dancing on his grave, but the man does need to be told he wronged Kenyans over and over again – at least until he issues an unreserved apology and resigns.
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