ethnic cleansing
written by Stephen Wainaina , January 31, 2008

Actually, maybe it is true there is no Kikuyu resistance. I am quoting from this associated press article here about the sunny lakeside town of Kisumu and with regard to Jendayi Frazer's Addis Ababa comment that there was in the Rift Valley ethnic cleansing of Kikuyu and that this had led to the revenge attacks in Naivasha.

The young man hefting a machete at the burning roadblock was frustrated. He'd been looking for five days, but could not find a member of the Kikuyu tribe to kill.

Members of Kenya's biggest tribe have disappeared in their thousands from Kisumu, making it the first but perhaps not the last ח city to be ethnically cleansed.
"If we find any Kikuyus, we're going to slaughter them or burn them alive," 19-year-old Daniel Odongo said Wednesday, who wielded the machete as a mob of hundreds of young men with rusty axes and other weapons roared their approval. "But there is none in the houses around here."
.........
Government figures released Wednesday said the number of people forced from their homes has risen to 300,000, showing that ethnic cleansing has not diminished, and this threatens to redraw Kenya's once cosmopolitan ethnic map in areas like the Rift Valley.

On Wednesday, the top U.S. envoy for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, said Kenya was experiencing "clear ethnic cleansing" in the Rift Valley region.

"There was an organized effort to push people out of the Rift Valley," Frazer said. Now after weeks of deadly attacks, counterattacks and reprisals, she said "killing may be the object.".............
Six-year-old Nicky Ochieng, a Luo, said he took two books from the house where his Kikuyu friend, Maina, used to live. Asked whether they will ever play together again, he answered earnestly, "only if Raila becomes president." The other children giggled.

The child echoed what adults here say: Vanished neighbors can only come back if there is a political solution to the allegations of electoral rigging, charges supported by international and local observers.

Now this is only a fact. When an entire community is hunted down in this way, when no apology is made for it by the political leadership of the opposing camp, see Raila's Kisumu speech on reasons for not disturbing the Kisii, when the campaign is coordinated and bears all the hall-marks of discipline and planning, then it is by fact, ethnic cleansing.

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written by a guest , January 31, 2008

(User IP banned. Ed.)

shame shame
written by Timothy Wainaina , January 31, 2008

This is beyond belief, they come together under an umbrella emblazoned with the words peace, and then go on to declare that they will not preach peace until there is a resolution to the impasse!!

How do we go back to the constituency without a message to the electorate indicating that a resolution has been arrived at over the current crisis? posed Matungu MP, Mr David Were.
He added: The electorate are eagerly waiting for a solution to the crisis that occurred following the discredited Presidential election vote. How does one go home and tell them to keep peace without offering a solution to the crisis?

And what are they doing in Nairobi exactly? Buying Hummers?

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written by aeichener , January 31, 2008

Yep, I guess he is taking over his brother's hummer contract. Can't let such a sign of ostentatious Railaism perish, can he?

Alexander

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written by Nyabs , January 31, 2008

Timothy, I read the statement of the 100 Amani Mps in the Standard with utmost disbelief.

It is abdication of responsibility of the highest order. In effect, it reinforced the stand of the ODM supporters of no Justice, No Peace.

There is a whole lot that these so called representatives of the people can do. If they went out and talked to the constituents and pleaded with them to maintain the peace until a solution to the current problem was found, there would be be peace.

Nay, if they went out and reasoned with the people and clearly demonstrated that even with a rigged election, there is no need to turn against one's neighbour, then they would be peace.

If they consistently preached a message of oneness, an integrated Kenya that is interwoven and interdependent, then there would be peace.

For them to stay in the comfort of a relatively peaceful Nairobi and claim that they have nothing to tell their constituents unless a solution is found, smacks to me of the highest level of irresponsibility. Don't these MPs have even an iota of concern for the people who voted for them ( or even voted against them) whose livelihoods are being destroyed and who will be the worse off in this impasse?

I am deeply disappointed.

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written by Michael , January 31, 2008

The American State Dept. cannot help themselves: semantical BS. If what has, and continues, to happen in Kisumu and Eldoret is not "ethnic cleansing," then please clarify what does constitute "ethnic cleansing."

The American State Dept. is full of nabobs who end up looking like idiots when they try to parse the definition of, for example, a glass of water.

I am a supporter of Condi Rice, but career diplomats and political appointees are, sometimes, liabilities.

Killing, burning, raping, maiming, interdicting & expelling based upon tribe is "ethnic cleansing." It is evil and it is criminal. The people perpetrating and participating cannot do this with impunity or it will certainly continue.

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written by Alexander , January 31, 2008

Michael: I am afraid you have not read the above article. Please look at it again.
The Dept. of State was very well able to help itself, though maybe not the dense journalist.

Alexander

Ms.Frazer\'s Faux Pas
written by Peace Corps Carl , January 31, 2008

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya from 1995-1997. I lived and worked in Narok and loved the Maasai people.

On this subject, ASSA, Ms.Frazer, is obviusly ignorant of what she is saying. Frazer's public declaration undercut both American foreign policy and on-going negotiations and mediation talks.

re: Ms.Frazer\'s Faux Pas
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya from 1995-1997. I lived and worked in Narok and loved the Maasai people.

On this subject, ASSA, Ms.Frazer, is obviusly ignorant of what she is saying. Frazer's public declaration undercut both American foreign policy and on-going negotiations and mediation talks.

There you go again. The paternalistic exuberance of a know-it-all who thinks that because you lived with Maasais for two years, you understand Kenya.
And what is the definition of American foreign policy in this context McCormacks behaviour, to identify ethnic cleansing but to pretend it is something else because it might offend the perpetrator? Is it a wonder American foreign policy is a prime factor in the decline of American global influence and respect for Americans in the community of nations? How did you Americans end up in this position? Don't you think it's because of the mindless stupidity of policy hacks like Mr McCormack and enthuthiastic ignorance of people like you?

Why can\'t Americans let Kofi
written by kobangoshe , February 01, 2008

I am distressed to see interference by the west, principally the US, EU and UK in Kofi Annan's work. I see Kofi's presence and role as one of the eminent Africans, tasked the mediation job by AU and not by American's State Department, nor EU neither UK. The 2.9b shillings EU claims will be at risk unless Kenya sorts its political crisis, is not worth its intimidation and arrogance. The US's aid we know comes to NGOs through USAID, and it is not to the government.
No international or external solution can be imposed on Kenya and be expected to work. Iraq and Afganistan are failed examples where such prescriptions didn't work. Kenya doesn't need it. I probably would buy President Paul Kagame suggestion. I had the same thoughts too when ethnic cleansing started in Kisumu and Eldoret. I still see it as the way out to get rid of selfish leaders, at least for 2-4 years.

re: re: Ms.Frazer\'s Faux Pas
written by mzalendo1 , February 01, 2008

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya from 1995-1997. I lived and worked in Narok and loved the Maasai people.
On this subject, ASSA, Ms.Frazer, is obviusly ignorant of what she is saying. Frazer's public declaration undercut both American foreign policy and on-going negotiations and mediation talks.

There you go again. The paternalistic exuberance of a know-it-all who thinks that because you lived with Maasais for two years, you understand Kenya.
And what is the definition of American foreign policy in this context McCormack's behaviour, to identify ethnic cleansing but to pretend it is something else because it might offend the perpetrator? Is it a wonder American foreign policy is a prime factor in the decline of American global influence and respect for Americans in the community of nations? How did you Americans end up in this position? Don't you think it's because of the mindless stupidity of policy hacks like Mr McCormack and enthusiastic ignorance of people like you?

Kindly read and re-read the link above. The guy is actually re-affirming that Jendayi was right!!

on aid
written by mzalendo1 , February 01, 2008

The 2.9b shillings EU claims will be at risk unless Kenya sorts its political crisis, is not worth EU's intimidation and arrogance.

Lets face it! We lived through a time when Moi's regime was completely starved of aid/assistance and we still survived!
The biggest casualty of this nonsense is the common Joe. When foreign investment is encumbered because the EU wont work with us then that's when the problems will start.

Jendayi Frazer\'s statements
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya from 1995-1997. I lived and worked in Narok and loved the Maasai people.

On this subject, ASSA, Ms.Frazer, is obviusly ignorant of what she is saying. Frazer's public declaration undercut both American foreign policy and on-going negotiations and mediation talks.

Whatever new stupid identity you try to put on like a costume on a village fool, "Savant", your ignorance of Kenya still shines through. Next time you log in here, you'll pretend to be Ida Odinga, I guess.

As to Jendayi Frazer, you have not understood what she said. But I take it that most readers here have. There is nothing worthy of criticism in there, neither from a US nor from a Kenyan standpoint.

Alexander

Why can\'t Americans....
written by Alexander , February 01, 2008

No international or external solution can be imposed on Kenya and be expected to work.

This is a short-sighted wording, Kobangoshe, I am afraid.
Yes, a true solution (as in: to resolve) can only come from within, and must be borne by the people. The shining example of Somaliland shows that it is possible; and the triste counter-example of Somalia shows that external mingling can fail.
However, you are still wrong. External intervention can be very necessary, especially when we are dealing with a bunch of mindless savages as in Kenya right now. Had only one at the time fully action-ready) half-regiment of the French Foreign Legion been flown in from Djibouti in time, 1 million of Rwandans would be still alive! :-(
Alexander

biasness
written by Jessy , February 02, 2008

Ed,i posted my comments this topic but you didnt publish them and am sure they werent provocative in any way.while i know that you reserve the right to publish whatever you deem right. i get this feeling that you tend to favour pro govt comments while rejecting pro ODM comments.ED here is one piece of advice to you.i can tell that you are a very talented person but what is bringing you down is the tribalist in you(which all of us suffer from) and 4 a person like you. you dont belong in this class so just shed your tribal attirre and put on the proffesional attire and be fair to everyone and you are going to move mountains. you have the potential but you are not using it. so remember the road to greatness begins by being fair to everyone.

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written by aeichener , February 02, 2008

Jessy: stop your petulant childish whining. If you still feel that the content of your posting deserves publication, rewrite it properly, erase all tribalism and triteness, and submit it again.

A.

the problem
written by GAITA , February 02, 2008

This crisis we are facing is simply rooted in politicians brainwashing their tribesmen into thinking their pie has been robbed by not only Kibaki but also his ethnic group.How do we solve this problem?It's tough,maybe its better to just have the majimbo afterall and build commonwealth of kenyan majimbos,where these tribal majimbos will have right to control their own land at their own discretion and don't have to blame anyone for their underdevelopment.

Majimbo will only make matters
written by Cogni , February 02, 2008

Gaita
What odm did with their claims about the central Kenya being favoured was to cause division amongst Kenyans. They sough to divide Kenyans by isolating Kikuyus through lies and propaganda. They attempted to unite other Kenyans with hatred of "central Kenya". The plan may not have worked perfectly but the fruits of that odm campaign are being reaped by Kenyans today.

It is not the feelings of historical injustice or disputes that drive the violence. Those exist in every country in the world and indeed states, institutions and laws are created to provide a non violent way to resolve disputes and address injustice.

It is the exploitation of these historical feelings of injustice as well as inter tribal jealousies that have led to the divisions amongst kenyans.

Many of those doing the killings have grown up together with those they are killing. That is their history they don't know Kenyatta for most of their lives Moi was President. However they have been fed a steady diet of hate against the people of "central Kenya" disguised as history and a search for justice.

This is what the international press are missing when they report on the Kenyan crises.