The article idolizes the death of a male protestor in Kisumu as a source of "our" inspiration adding that "tears are being shed for him by people that never met or knew him". Ms. Warah remains silent on the misery in the Rift Valley following massacres that left hundreds dead in Eldoret, Cherengany, Londiani, Kipkelion, Msambweni and elsewhere. These dead were targeted merely because of their mother-tongue and supposed political affiliation. 

Is the death of one protestor any more significant than the deaths of 400 Kenyans "cleansed" in the Rift Valley? Are we not to draw any inspiration from the deaths of these hundreds of innocents? 

Whilst I do not intend at all to excuse the actions of the policeman that allegedly shot dead the young man in Kisumu, it saddens me that the ODM and ODM leaning commentators (and here I make no judgment as to Ms. Warah's political affiliation) find it unworthy of their effort to comment on the tragedy unfolding in the Rift Valley. 

On the contrary, the ODM, with their mastery of propaganda, appear to have succeeded in turning the media cameras, local and international attention away from the plight of the many faceless and nameless victims in the Rift Valley (mostly Kikuyu and Kisii) that went through the most horrifying deaths at the hands of ODM supporters. They would want the world to believe that the killings and evictions in the Rift Valley were a spontaneous reaction to the announcement of Kibaki's re-election. All evidence, however, urges us to a conclusion that the murderous mobs acted on the instruction (or incitement) of their leaders in a well-choreographed campaign that bears all the evidence of discipline and organisation. 

The Rift Valley case is a monumental humanitarian catastrophe compared with the accidental deaths of far fewer youth in Kisumu who, and this must be pointed out, made the conscious decision to exit their homes and engage in riots, rape, looting, vandalism and arson; or to stand in the company of individuals engaged in such crimes. The mobs in Kisumu and elsewhere put their lives on the line knowing fully well that their violent protests (for they did not appear to be peaceful) would be met with equal or greater force. The destruction of Kisumu and the large turnout of these groups continued even after news of the deaths of rioters had filtered out across the country. There was little if any innocence in those who came out onto the streets.

The young man in Kisumu had a few choices: he could have vented his anger at the election results in a more civil and peaceful manner; he could have opted to stay away from the mayhem; or he could have chosen to participate in the mayhem with the attendant risks. We all know he chose the latter and would not have died had he applied prudent judgment not to attend the protests called by Raila Odinga or if he had kept the peace. By taunting and exposing himself to armed policemen, policemen who were on duty to quell riots and the destruction of Kenya's third largest city, the probability of injury or even death was high.

The death of any Kenyan, it must be said is truly tragic, but those in he ODM crying over this particular death are only trying to score political points.  The party's top leadership conveniently shows no remorse for the Rift Valley victims, and even goes as far as to excuse the actions of their assailants. Whereas anger is a legitimate emotion, the manner in which these murderers vented that anger cannot be excused or swept under the carpet.

In contrast to the Kisumu incidents, it is well documented that many of the victims in Eldoret and other parts of Rift Valley died at the hands of armed gangs who either hacked them to death or burned them alive. These crimes were committed against people sleeping in their homes, fleeing the North Rift or most memorably seeking refuge in a church. These quite clearly are not the same as the deaths in Kisumu. The Rift Valley murderers walked out of their houses with murderous intent. The Rift Valley victims did not taunt their assailants, they did not transgress against them or do anything that would warrant the brutal violence that ushered them to their deaths. 

The people in Eldoret didn't have the same luxury of wealth choice that those in Kisumu had. They were condemned not for any action, but for simply being. Even as they fled, even under military escort, they were still hunted for their difference.

Predictably, the ODM does not want Kenyans to interrogate these different scenarios. It is not politically expedient for them as it would show the unrighteousness of their crusade. They demand an equivalence between these two different tragedies, and refuse to contemplate the differences.

So whilst I empathise with the family of Kisumu man for their loss, my heart goes out to the injured, dead and displaced in the Rift Valley. Most of all, I am touched by those that have decided, in spite of the imminent danger, to count their losses and move back to their farms and start rebuilding. These resilient folk are my inspiration, they are the true heroes.