Violence Erupts in Kenya After Disputed Election

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki’s disputed victory in elections held last week on December 27th have prompted an unprecedented storm of tribal violence in the country.

Rival political opponent Raila Odinga was blamed by Kibaki for unleashing "genocide" on the usually dominant Kikuyu tribe, to which Kibaki belongs.

"It is becoming clear that these well-organized acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing were well planned, financed and rehearsed by Orange Democratic Movement leaders prior to the general elections," said government representative Lands Minister Kivutha Kibwana.

Recent press reports state the number killed so far in the violence is at least 300, with over 50 people burned to death after trying to seek refuge at an Assembly of God church in the town of Eldoret, near Nairobi. The church killing is especially shocking to Kenyan citizens, as children were among the victims, and it recalls the horrific scenes in Rwanda where thousands of innocent people were murdered while trying to find safety at churches.

Said witness George Karanja, "They started burning the church. The mattresses that people were sleeping on caught fire. There was a stampede, and people fell on one another."

In retaliation, the nearby town of Navaisha was attacked, injuring nearly 100 people in response to the church killing.

Odinga, who belongs to the Luo tribe, has announced plans for a "million man march" to take place on Thursday of this week, to protest an election he and his supporters say was rigged. Kibaki has responded by saying that the protest will be banned by the government, a move which many fear will only escalate the violence.

The largely peaceful election process became contentious after an early lead by Odinga appeared to evaporate, eliciting accusations of election rigging.

A comment made by election commissioner Samual Kivuitu only served to add fuel to the fire, when he said "I do not know," when asked who had won the election. Kivuitu had previously announced that Kibaki was the victor, but later said he only did so because of pressure from both parties to announce a winner. ""I was being pushed by [both parties] to announce the results immediately."

The comment encouraged many Odinga supporters to conclude that the election was not yet over, and the violence, which began only moments after the results were announced on Sunday, escalated.

Many Kenyans are shocked at the recent clash of violence, as they take pride in their country’s reputation as a stable, largely peaceful nation in the midst of other warring countries. Kenya has been an important ally to the West.

Under Kibaki’s rule, Kenya has become a more prosperous nation, with a healthy tourist trade. However, hundreds of thousands of Kenyans still live in poverty, and the minority tribes hoped for more favorable conditions under a new leader.

Hoping to ease tensions, Kibaki invited all members of his new parliament, which is dominated by opposition tribes, to a meeting in Nairobi at the State House. However, none of the opposition party leaders attended, with the support of Odinga. "We cannot dialogue with a thief," said Odinga to the press. "We are not interested in talking with Kibaki without international mediation."

Other countries around the world have expressed their shock and urge the two leaders to call for peace from their supporters.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu arrived in Nairobi to offer his help and support to resolve the conflicts, and African Union chairman and President of Ghana John Kufuor has prepared to travel to Kenya to facilitate a mediation between Kibaki and Odinga.

Said Britain’s prime minister Gordon Brown, who had spoken with Kufuor, "He will call on them to urge their supporters to end violence and he will work with the parties to ensure that reconciliation is brought about and perhaps a chance that some of the people who are at the moment opponents may join a government of national unity."