Daily Nation (Kenya): Foreign Media’s Harsh Verdict of Disputed Election
In one span of a week, Kenya has made the dubious journey from a prospering democracy to a tribal battleground, said the [Financial] Times online. [SNIP]
Jeevan Vesaga of The Guardian described Kenya as an African exception and a role model.
“Kenya’s economy is one of Africa’s best. Its highlands are blessed with the ideal blend of sunshine and cool altitude for growing tea, coffee and flowers — it’s the world’s biggest exporter of tea and supplies Britain with many of its Valentine’s Day roses. It has a hardworking, educated workforce, many of whom speak good English. Mombasa is one of Africa’s finest harbours and Nairobi is an air transport hub for the continent.”
The two journalists warned that if Kenya descends into anarchy, one of the continent’s brightest lights would have flickered out.Guardian (UK): Condescension and Ignorance are No Help to Kenya
Africans played no part in the creation of their nation states. Their boundaries were drawn on maps in Europe by Europeans who had never even been to Africa and with no regard for existing political systems and boundaries. Half a century later, Africans were given flags and national anthems, airlines and armies and told they were now independent; Kenyans, Nigerians or Chadians. [SNIP]
So while tribalism is an issue in Africa, it is not some weird atavistic African sentiment but a logical result of Africa's imposed history. Most Africans I have met speak three or four languages, intermarriage is common and there is, in normal times, little personal conflict between people of different ethnicity. What always astounds me in Africa is how well people of completely different cultures, customs and languages get along with one another.Al Jazeera (Qatar): Odinga Changes His Mind, Cancels Rally Scheduled for Tuesday, Toll Climbs
Speaking to Al Jazeera's Africa bureau chief Andrew Simmons after his meeting with Frazer, Odinga said: "There has been a major breakthrough ... I have talked to [African Union chairman and Ghana] President [John] Kufour, who has confirmed to me that he is on his way and that he will arrive [in Nairobi] tomorrow evening. [SNIP]
Amid the nascent signs of political reconciliation, Kenya's government said that more than 480 people have been killed and 255,000 displaced by the post-election violence.
But aid workers say the toll could go much higher.And so it does continue to climb…
AFP: Kenyan opposition cancels protests, unrest toll soars to 600
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on Monday called off protests over disputed presidential elections, as mediation efforts accelerated and the death toll from post-poll violence surged to at least 600.
The opposition announcement came ahead of the arrival Wednesday of the chairman of the African Union, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who is expected to push for a compromise between re-elected President Mwai Kibaki and Odinga, his defeated challenger.All Africa: Kenya Crisis Hobbling Uganda
Landlocked to the west of Kenya, Uganda suffered the biggest shock of countries that rely on the Mombasa sea route for imports and exports. [SNIP]
Traders in Kampala's trading hub of Kikuubo told this news paper that, "We are suffering, business is not good, we do not have fuel." One trader who preferred not to be named also posed the tricky question: "they are talking about fuel coming, but will our goods come?"
This was in reaction to reports that the Uganda government has negotiated with the Kenyans to provide armed escort to fuel tankers through the volatile western Kenya so as to replenish stocks in Uganda.You know, of course, that there will be updates.
(Thanks to Charlie Beckett)
PREVIOUSLY:
As If This Changes Anything
Is Odinga a Muslim?
No Rest for the Wicked
Ganging Up
Uhuru Park Up Close
Six Degrees
Slaughter Postponed
Dreading Tomorrow
Kenya: Up in Smoke
Winds of Kenyan War
Kenyan Tribal Violence
