They are afraid of their new leadership. They are afraid of losing their democracy.
Kenya Violence Augurs Ethnic Split (click here)
Kenya Violence Brings A Bloody End To Uneasy Coexistence Among Ethnic Groups
ELDORET, Kenya, Jan. 22, 2008
Kenya Violence Brings A Bloody End To Uneasy Coexistence Among Ethnic Groups
ELDORET, Kenya, Jan. 22, 2008
...In many regions, the violence following President Mwai Kibaki's re-election has brought a bloody end to decades of coexistence among Kenya's ethnic groups, transforming villages, cities and towns where Kenyans had lived together _ however uneasily at times _ since independence from Britain in 1963.
Some worry the change may be permanent, boding ill for democracy in this once-stable African country.
Much of the fighting has pitted other tribes against Kibaki's Kikuyu, long dominant in Kenyan politics and the economy. The vote tapped into a well of resentment that resurfaces regularly at election time in Kenya, but this year's bloodshed has been the most brutal and sustained by far.
"Polarization of the communities here is growing day by day," said Ben Rawlence, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The longer the political stalemate continues, the more likely the ethnic map of Kenya will be permanently altered."...
This type of violence has happened before in Kenya. That doesn't mean it won't get out of hand.
Why isn't the international community stating things like, "...there they go playing the tribal card again..." and stopping this mess before it gets started. Imflammatory politics that lead to known violence should be punishable by review of the World Court !
Kenya violence planned before election (click here)
Politicians have exploited deeply rooted divisions among 42 tribes since early '90s
Nick Wadhams, Chronicle Foreign Service
Sunday, January 13, 2008
...Molo and the surrounding areas have long been a flash point of violence. It is a diverse place, with residents from across Kenya's ethnic spectrum. This is also the home turf of the former dictator Moi, who came from the small Kalenjin tribe and fanned resentment in a divide-and-rule tactic that he adopted from his predecessor, Jomo Kenyatta, and the British colonialists who ran Kenya until independence in 1963.
Each time election season comes around, politicians play the tribal card as a way to whip up support, hobble the political opposition and accumulate land for their fellow tribesmen.
"We've had a long history of ethnic violence in Kenya that has been politically manipulated since the 1992 and 1997 elections," said Binaifer Nowrojee, director of the Open Society Initiative for East Africa, based in New York. "Events of the last two weeks show how rapidly we can deteriorate, and that's what's scaring everybody. The danger is that we can become Rwanda, but we're not there yet."
Most of the victims here are Kikuyu, just like the victorious incumbent, Kibaki. The president has been accused of bestowing jobs and land upon Kikuyus, who are the country's largest ethnic group. The attackers, on the other hand, are supporters of opposition leader Odinga from several tribes - mostly Luo and Kalenjin, who claim to have been shortchanged for decades....
Death toll in Kenya violence reaches 30 (click here)
August 18, 1997
Web posted at: 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT)
MOMBASA, Kenya (CNN) -- Five people were reportedly killed near Kenya's Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa Monday, the latest victims in a wave of violence that President Daniel arap Moi blamed on tribalism and opposition groups.
Police said one man guarding his property was killed at a settlement north of Mombasa Island by unidentified attackers, and local journalists said four people were killed in a separate attack in Likoni, just south of the island.
The latest casualties raised the death toll to at least 30 people killed since Wednesday. Violence erupted on that day in Likoni, when more than 100 armed people attacked and burned a local police station and district officer's compound, killing seven policemen....
...Odinga put the death toll higher, saying 30 people had been burned to death and blaming the government for trying to divert attention away from the electoral dispute.
"What is now emerging is that criminal gangs, on a killing spree, working under police protection, are part of a well orchestrated plan of terror to spread and escalate the levels of violence," Odinga said in a statement.
Two truckloads of soldiers were deployed as sporadic gunfire rang out and smoke poured from torched homes and vehicles. Barricades blocked Kenya's main western highway outside the town and police turned back cars heading towards the area.
Shooting continued late into the day.
"It is as if every tribe is against us, and no one is protecting us," said Dominic Karanja, a Kikuyu watching troops dismantle roadblocks that he had helped build...
The Rwanda Genocide occurred in 100 days. It only take a fire storm that can't be stopped !
Scores killed in Kenya Rift Valley (click here)
Published: Sunday 27 January 2008 08:29 UTC
Last updated: Sunday 27 January 2008 15:48 UTC
Nairobi - Communal violence in Kenya's Rift Valley has claimed over 80 lives in three days. More than half of them were killed in the provincial capital Nakuru. Many were hacked to death with machetes.The latest violence broke out on Thursday between supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who belong to different ethnic groups. December's disputed election results have engulfed the country in a wave of violence which has left over 700 people dead.After visiting refugee camps in the west of the country, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported seeing evidence of "gross and systematic human rights abuses". He insisted the abuses should not remain unpunished.Mr Annan, who is continuing his mediation efforts, on Thursday succeeded in bringing President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga together for their first direct talks but without achieving a breakthrough.
Refugee camps are prone to violence. Nakuru has a large refugee camp. If the violence spreads into the camp it could cause deaths in the thousands. Could be the beginning of civil disturbance that can't be stopped. Refugees can also act as recruits.
Spillover effect (click here)
Until Thursday Nakuru town had escaped the post-election violence that has seen more than 600 people killed across the country. But the Rift Valley has been particularly hit by the violence.
"This could be a spillover of the violence from neighbouring areas of Molo and Kuresoi", Magenyi said.
Violence in those districts has led to an escalation in the numbers of displaced people arriving in Nakuru. Their accounts in turn fuel anger in Nakuru....
...Nakuru is a town of about 300,000 with a large proportion being of the Kikuyu community. However the Rift Valley is historically dominated by the Kalenjin and land clashes in the province have broken out over the last two decades.
The violence comes despite a symbolic meeting meeting on 24 January between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi, brokered by African Union mediator Kofi Annan.
Kofi Annan needs to be careful. It almost appears as though they are coming for him.
Why isn't the international community stating things like, "...there they go playing the tribal card again..." and stopping this mess before it gets started. Imflammatory politics that lead to known violence should be punishable by review of the World Court !
Kenya violence planned before election (click here)
Politicians have exploited deeply rooted divisions among 42 tribes since early '90s
Nick Wadhams, Chronicle Foreign Service
Sunday, January 13, 2008
...Molo and the surrounding areas have long been a flash point of violence. It is a diverse place, with residents from across Kenya's ethnic spectrum. This is also the home turf of the former dictator Moi, who came from the small Kalenjin tribe and fanned resentment in a divide-and-rule tactic that he adopted from his predecessor, Jomo Kenyatta, and the British colonialists who ran Kenya until independence in 1963.
Each time election season comes around, politicians play the tribal card as a way to whip up support, hobble the political opposition and accumulate land for their fellow tribesmen.
"We've had a long history of ethnic violence in Kenya that has been politically manipulated since the 1992 and 1997 elections," said Binaifer Nowrojee, director of the Open Society Initiative for East Africa, based in New York. "Events of the last two weeks show how rapidly we can deteriorate, and that's what's scaring everybody. The danger is that we can become Rwanda, but we're not there yet."
Most of the victims here are Kikuyu, just like the victorious incumbent, Kibaki. The president has been accused of bestowing jobs and land upon Kikuyus, who are the country's largest ethnic group. The attackers, on the other hand, are supporters of opposition leader Odinga from several tribes - mostly Luo and Kalenjin, who claim to have been shortchanged for decades....
Death toll in Kenya violence reaches 30 (click here)
August 18, 1997
Web posted at: 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT)
MOMBASA, Kenya (CNN) -- Five people were reportedly killed near Kenya's Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa Monday, the latest victims in a wave of violence that President Daniel arap Moi blamed on tribalism and opposition groups.
Police said one man guarding his property was killed at a settlement north of Mombasa Island by unidentified attackers, and local journalists said four people were killed in a separate attack in Likoni, just south of the island.
The latest casualties raised the death toll to at least 30 people killed since Wednesday. Violence erupted on that day in Likoni, when more than 100 armed people attacked and burned a local police station and district officer's compound, killing seven policemen....
...Odinga put the death toll higher, saying 30 people had been burned to death and blaming the government for trying to divert attention away from the electoral dispute.
"What is now emerging is that criminal gangs, on a killing spree, working under police protection, are part of a well orchestrated plan of terror to spread and escalate the levels of violence," Odinga said in a statement.
Two truckloads of soldiers were deployed as sporadic gunfire rang out and smoke poured from torched homes and vehicles. Barricades blocked Kenya's main western highway outside the town and police turned back cars heading towards the area.
Shooting continued late into the day.
"It is as if every tribe is against us, and no one is protecting us," said Dominic Karanja, a Kikuyu watching troops dismantle roadblocks that he had helped build...
The Rwanda Genocide occurred in 100 days. It only take a fire storm that can't be stopped !
Scores killed in Kenya Rift Valley (click here)
Published: Sunday 27 January 2008 08:29 UTC
Last updated: Sunday 27 January 2008 15:48 UTC
Nairobi - Communal violence in Kenya's Rift Valley has claimed over 80 lives in three days. More than half of them were killed in the provincial capital Nakuru. Many were hacked to death with machetes.The latest violence broke out on Thursday between supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who belong to different ethnic groups. December's disputed election results have engulfed the country in a wave of violence which has left over 700 people dead.After visiting refugee camps in the west of the country, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported seeing evidence of "gross and systematic human rights abuses". He insisted the abuses should not remain unpunished.Mr Annan, who is continuing his mediation efforts, on Thursday succeeded in bringing President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga together for their first direct talks but without achieving a breakthrough.
Refugee camps are prone to violence. Nakuru has a large refugee camp. If the violence spreads into the camp it could cause deaths in the thousands. Could be the beginning of civil disturbance that can't be stopped. Refugees can also act as recruits.
Spillover effect (click here)
Until Thursday Nakuru town had escaped the post-election violence that has seen more than 600 people killed across the country. But the Rift Valley has been particularly hit by the violence.
"This could be a spillover of the violence from neighbouring areas of Molo and Kuresoi", Magenyi said.
Violence in those districts has led to an escalation in the numbers of displaced people arriving in Nakuru. Their accounts in turn fuel anger in Nakuru....
...Nakuru is a town of about 300,000 with a large proportion being of the Kikuyu community. However the Rift Valley is historically dominated by the Kalenjin and land clashes in the province have broken out over the last two decades.
The violence comes despite a symbolic meeting meeting on 24 January between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi, brokered by African Union mediator Kofi Annan.
Kofi Annan needs to be careful. It almost appears as though they are coming for him.
