Like many Kenyans I watched with disbelief as my country slide into violence in the past week. One thing that shocked everyone was the speed at which things escalated. If you had told anyone one week ago as they stood in those long lines to vote that just seven days later the country would reeling from being plunged into violence, supermarkets would be forced to shut and there would be long queues for basics such as bread, that by Monday you would be paying KSH 90.00 for a KSH 50.00 and KSH 330.00 for a KSH 250 Safaricom airtime card, that a church with mainly women and children would be burnt to the ground killing around 30, most people would have thought you were mad. But that is what happened.
So what are people doing? One important thing to repeat is that no one expected this and therefore, understandably, no one had a contingency plan in place for the country going up in flames. However, once the shock subsided, Kenyans swung into action. The first response was humanitarian, getting food, clothing, blankets, medical professionals and medical supplies in. The humanitarian response comes first because if your house is on fire, you immediate priority is to stop it burning. Once you have stopped the fire then you can start examining whether it was petrol, diesel, a faulty gas cylinder etc that caused the fire. Right now we are still fighting the fire, literally and metaphorically. The biggest challenge, apart from the usual logistical challenges of mounting such an operation, was the lack of safe passage into the area as the security situation deteriorated. As the government was nowhere to be seen, the humanitarian response revolved around identifying and talking to local Community Based Organisations (CBOs) on the ground in areas of violence and using their networks to reach those affected. CBOs are very important in situations like this because, they know many of those who are perpetrating the violence personally, they know where tensions are the highest, they know key people who can help reduce those tensions, and they have distribution channels through which supplied can pass. It has been heartening to see big international NGOs recognise and work with small CBOs on the ground.
However, there was one big problem, communication. The severe lack of mobile phone airtime vouchers meant that information could not flow up from the ground. Many of us in Nairobi and other urban areas were running around looking for airtime vouchers which we can send directly to another mobile phone enabling them to make calls and send txts. Another problem was that as these CBOs are, as the name suggests, embedded in their community, many of them were caught up in the violence and were displaced themselves. So for example, some people had airtime on their phones, but couldn’t charge their phone batteries. It has to be repeated again that the government’s response has been pathetic thus far (that is a separate post on its own).
After the humanitarian response to the crisis, there is now movement for a political solution. Whatever you think about the long term roots of the current situation, economic inequality, ethnic tensions or even perhaps that everyone has been possessed by “devils” we all need to recognise that what sparked this violence was a political crisis and that crisis is that we have what many Kenyans consider to be an illegitimate president. That is not a partisan statement, even members of Kibaki’s cabinet say that we simply do not know who won the election.
Yesterday I attended a strategy meeting of concerned citizens a group pulled together by Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat, George Wachira and former Armed Forces Generals Daniel Opande and Lazarus Sumbeiywo. This is a very powerful group, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and across religious lines. The aim now is to get Raila and Kibaki to sit down and talk to discuss ways to stop the violence and to discuss political solutions to this crisis.
The aim of this post is not to explore the issues around the issues but to highlight that there is a sophisticated and dedicated response to the crisis in our country. We ALL have to recognise that there are some long term issues here that will have to be dealt with to hopefully stop this from ever happening again.
kenyaelection07Pamoja Tuangamize Ukimwi
Kaybees - Thanks for voting!
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January 3, 2008 at 9:49 am
Osiris
Even as you were meeting those worthies you mention - Kiplagat, Sumbeiywo, etc - one hopes that they do realize the only lasting solution to this is for Kibaki to step down and, if possible, have an independent audit of the vote tallying - or, if not possible, re-run the presidential election?
It is unacceptable that a man steals the election, and then appeals for peace - countries have imploded on less grievances.
Little else will do - the armed forces might impose peace, but they can’t stay everywhere forever. As soon as they leave, the violence will begin again. It is either this or balkanisation into tribal republics - a sad state of affairs that can be avoided with the admission by Kibaki that he stole the election, and a consequent re-run or re-tallying.
January 3, 2008 at 12:31 pm
iga upinde
http://www.raila2007.com/cms2/
Dear All,
Is Nairobi, the land stolen by Europeans and Gikuyus from the Maasai really appropriate to hold holy meetings to get rid of the rotten ruling class of Kenya to-date?
Why not hold such meetings and huge demonstrations in Kisumu, Eldoret, Mombasa, Garissa, Nakuru, Naivasha, Busia and such other notable places in the republic.
Will the ‘elections thieves’ have enough of their loyal dogs to guard every town and city in the republic????/
FURTHERMORE, if meetings fail let us call for civil disobedience for all those who know that Raila is the true President of Kenya- by stopping all unnecessary social and economic activities-including fencing off Kibaki’s loyal dogs from any territory where majority of us voted for Raila.
Iga Upinde,
Ukambaani,
Machakos
Are people of the Coast cowards after all this bad treatment from these people from BARA or upcountry why should not we demand a federation of five autonomous states for Kenya-where no daylight robbery of votes will ever take place.
Coast and Isles state- Mombasa capital
South western Kenya state- Kisumu capital
North western state-Busia capital
North Eastern state-Garissa capital
Central Kenya state- Gatundu capiital
Masaai country- Nairobi capital
We in the Coast and Isles state can choose to belong to Tanzania or Kenya provided our interests are given priority before anything else!
Think about it
Hamisi Matuga,
Mombasa
http://www.raila2007.com/cms2/
Dear All,
Is Nairobi, the land stolen by Europeans and Gikuyus from the Maasai really appropriate to hold holy meetings to get rid of the rotten ruling class of Kenya to-date?
Why not hold such meetings and huge demonstrations in Kisumu, Eldoret, Mombasa, Garissa, Nakuru, Naivasha, Busia and such other notable places in the republic.
Will the ‘elections thieves’ have enough of their loyal dogs to guard every town and city in the republic????/
FURTHERMORE, if meetings fail let us call for civil disobedience for all those who know that Raila is the true President of Kenya- by stopping all unnecessary social and economic activities-including fencing off Kibaki’s loyal dogs from any territory where majority of us voted for Raila.
Iga Upinde,
Ukambaani,
Machakos
> —– Original Message —–
> From: “mchumi mbabaishaji”
> To: swahili@bbc.co.uk, swahili@bbc.com, focus@bbc.co.uk
> Subject: INSTANT SOLUTION FOR KENYANS
> Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 12:24:25 +0800
>
>
> Dear Sir,
>
>
> Kenyans had it coming all along. The only man who seemed to unite
> Kenyans was the late Jomo Kenyatta. All the leaders today have
> first and above all self-interest and are greed for power and
> money not for the sake of helping the people and the country but
> rather to enrich themselves.
>
> Hearing the ‘nonsense’ from those who stole the elections one
> feels there is only one way out for Kenyans. And that is having
> five countries in one. North western Kenya, South western Kenya,
> Central Kenya, North Eastern and Coast [including isles] states
> these states can then choose to form a federation with Uganda,
> Tanzania, Somalia or with the other autonomous Kenyan states.
>
> As things stand Ugandans and Tanzanians should keep Kenya as a
> leprosy victim at arm’s length for their own safety.
>
> After tasting blood it will take nothing less than both Odinga and
> Kibaki being barred from becoming president by the army or
> judiciary.
>
> But who does not know subservient the courts and the armed forces
> are in Kenya? No hope at all in this.
>
> rais
> Mombasa
> republic of Kenya
>
> =
> Hard Drive Backup Software
> Complete backup your entire PC. Save all your application settings.
> http://a8-asy.a8ww.net/a8-ads/adftrclick?redirectid=24340f26f1d3c5f54630d4b0e23ae49b
>
>
> –
> Powered by Outblaze
Kenyans won the lections, Kibaki lost it……
IN FACT it is wrong to blame Kibaki, the old man……….he is being used by those in charge of Kenyan Tresury, big businessmen and former leaders who have so many SINS to hide from the deserving next president. Giving power to Raila will expose the Kings and the kingmakers who believe they are dressed in the best robes in the world while in fact they are naked!
Machungwa Dogoo,
Malindi
>
January 3, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Philip Roy
The solution is :
1. Have a unified Government
2. Do a run off election in 90 days ( presidential only)
3.Have The U.N. do the job of the ECK
and you have peace back.
January 3, 2008 at 5:10 pm
savin
This is a resource issue between a handful of Smug Arrogant Bastards and Kenya’s poor “Wananchi” ( I hate thar word) SAB will play the tribal card as without it they have no power. That said what is to stop this happenning next year or 2012/2017. Raila tried to reason with kibaki to change the constitution so it can protect every Kenyan, SAB saw their power will be severely curtailed, the rest as they say is history. Only a change of the Constitution and devolution of power will prevent this crap from happening again and again.
January 3, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Sijui
Excellent initiative Mental, excellent……please post any information on how citizens can participate in this initiative e.g. form local meet ups to tabulate consensus and start petitioning MP elects, donations, volunteer opportunities……whatever!
I like many Kenyans want to be part of a proactive solution so efforts such as this must be encouraged and the momentum fuelled!
P.S. Can you also advise on how guys can donate airtime? Which CBOs can we ‘pool’ our airtime to?
January 3, 2008 at 8:21 pm
mkenya halisi
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kenya4jan04,0,4416543.story?coll=la-home-world
Kenya chaos and killings continue
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Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
3:03 AM PST, January 3, 2008
NAIROBI, KENYA — Kenyan riot police today fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of opposition protesters waving branches and white cloths, stopping them from marching to a banned rally at a city park.
Defying the police ban, opposition presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, called on his supporters to go ahead with a “million man march,” raising fears of a new surge of tribal killing. He accuses President Mwai Kibaki of rigging elections and illegitimately grabbing another five-year term.
But while police succeeded in containing the demonstrators to the slum area of Kibera, home to about a million people, they could not contain their anger. Despite the white cloths, protesters, mainly from the Luo tribe, threatened to keep on killing Kikuyus from President Kibaki’s tribe until he steps down.
“We are slaughtering them and we will keep on slaughtering them,” said one young protester, Gabriel Okelo, who got up at six and walked nine miles from the outskirts of the city to march in support of Odinga.
As the political violence worsens, tribal fighting and tit-for-tat killings have been going on in Nairobi’s slums and in other towns.
Okelo said he killed two people with a machete for the first time Wednesday because “When you are angry, it’s easy. If they refuse our president, Raila Odinga to address the rally, it will happen again. We shall slaughter the Kikuyus. It will go on and on and on, in all parts of the country.”
The confrontation threatened to deepen Kenya’s political crisis and worsen the tribal violence that flared up over the weekend and has so far killed at least 300.
Intense international diplomatic efforts have so far failed to persuade the two to step back from the brink and reach a political settlement.
Kenya’s morning newspapers pleaded for compromise, with the Daily Nation and Standard running identical front page banner headlines: “Save Our Beloved Country.”
“No grievance and no cause is worth the innocent blood of Kenyan children,” said an editorial in the Daily Nation. “We’re on the brink of becoming one of Africa’s failed states,” ran another headline in the newspaper.
Until last week’s election, Kenya was a beacon of democracy in Africa. With elections due in Ghana, Zimbabwe and Angola this year, the message Kibaki’s administration sends to other African countries about democracy is seen as crucial.
South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu flew in to Nairobi today offering to mediate and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was talking to both sides in a bid to find a compromise and avert a slide into tribal warfare. African Union chairman and Ghanian President, John Kufuor, was due to fly into Nairobi today to meet both Kibaki and Odinga.
But so far, neither side is willing to make a meaningful concession in a winner-take-all standoff for the right to rule East Africa’s strongest economy.
Even if there was a political settlement there is a question mark over the extent to which Odinga can control his supporters.
One opposition protester, Edward Okoo, 32, said the protesters would not support a power-sharing deal, sentiments echoed by many others yesterday.
“There will be no peace until Raila (Odinga) is president. We voted for our party to lead.” “You can’t ask for a sheep and you get a goat,” chimed in another opposition supporter, David Namale, 39, referring to any power sharing arrangement.
The two political leaders are stalemated: Kibaki insists the election was fair and demands Odinga accept the results; Odinga demands that Kibaki admits he is not the legitimate president or accepts international mediators.
Both have refused a power-sharing deal, seen by the international community as the only speedy way forward in order to avoid more deaths and a slide into more entrenched tribal killing.
January 3, 2008 at 9:05 pm
robert
Those of you agreeing to another election mediated by international bodies - do you have a clue how much that would cost? We take our hard-to-come-by Kenyan money and give foreigners what a blast!
Here is a qoute for Raila
The message the VP had for Mr Raila Odinga, the ODM presidential candidate, whose camp believes President Kibaki stole their hard-earned victory: “You want to lead Kenya and I have no doubt that you have the ability to do so. You must be prepared to uphold and even extend democracy. Democracy is cumbersome, it is slow and bureaucratic but ultimately, it is the only fair system”. Democracy has its institutions and structures. I am not telling you anything you don’t know. You know more than I do. These institutions and structures must be upheld and respected. ECK is one. The Judiciary is another. They must be used at all times and not selectively. That is the law”.
January 3, 2008 at 9:29 pm
TruthBeTold
This is MUCH BIGGER than an alleged rigged election - it is about the ethnic cleansing ODINGA’S supporters are seeking against Kikuyus. Similar to what we saw when they burned down a church filled with innocent women and children amongst other crimes against humanity they have committed this past week.
So let’s save the democratic talk for when we have wazungus (this means white people for those guests who don’t speak swahili) around us. Kenyans know what to say to white people. But Kenyans know the real truth. We are Africans after all. This is why I’m glad Kibaki is president of Kenya.
January 3, 2008 at 10:48 pm
isdb
I direct the Institute for the Study of Disability & Bioethics here in the USA.
A major focus of the Institute is Africans with disabilites. We are curently working with people/organizations in Kenya to make people with disabilities more visible and included.
The Institute put out a press release condemning the violence generally, but also specifically in the instances of Kenyans with disabilities who have been killed or otherwise harmed.
The more stories I have of people with disabilities being targeted in the violence, the stronger I can make my press releases. If you, or anyone else can send me any instances of violence against Kenyans w/ disabilities, please let me know. I have several instances that I have culled from press stories, but I’m sure there are many more.
Thanks, Mark
January 4, 2008 at 6:40 pm
gedia
YOU PEOPLE OF KKENYA FIGHTING HAS GO SO MANY IMPACT
,IS BETTER IF YOU STOP .I CALL UPON EAST AFRICA MEMBERS
TO FIND OUT WAYS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
January 6, 2008 at 8:38 pm
MIKO
WARNING TO THE UK/US don’t fall victims of the dictator. The UK kenyan commissioner Mr MUCHEMI is the brother to Mr wandimi muchemi who is kibaki lawyer and also the registrar general in charge of kenyan courts.ALL ARE KIKUYUS DOES THE OPPOSITION STAND A CHANCE OF JUSTICE IN SUCH BLANTANT NEPOTISM PEOPLE WANT JUSCTICE AND TRIBALISM FREE GORVERNANCE NOT THE DICTATORS AND MAFIAS OF A TRIBE
January 6, 2008 at 8:44 pm
MIKO
THE KENYAN UK COMMISSIONER SHOULD STOP TELLING THE OPPOSITION TO GO TO COURT SHAMEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
January 11, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Macy
I’m glad that this crisis is getting so much reaction.
For anyone interested in seeing a photo gallery from the post-election violence I’m including a link to a blogger in Kenya that managed to write an essay about the ordeal and snap some photos.
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/photo-exclusive-kenya-elections/