Kenya conflict explained
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31 Jan 2008, 12:53
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Journals
So now two opposition MP(member of parliament) has been killed, and the situation is worse than ever.
Some of you know I was there when it started, but got evacuated first to uganda, but now i am in cameroon trying to learn french.
The question we all ask ourselves, "how can a country degenerate into such violence?"
I can't answer that, but i can give my thoughts.
Kenya was known as a very stable and peaceful country in its region, especially since many of its neighbour countries had a lot of troubles. Kenya has been viewed as a model country, managing to keep stability over time.
I was there during the last three months before the election. Everybody was talking about it, and even some people were fighting about it. Why is it so serious business? Back in norway it's like whatever, we don't notice any difference if someone else wins. But in Kenya, where lack of rescourses is a pressing problem, not to mention corruption, the average Kenyan will experience a lot of difference between leaders.
When I asked people, everybody said it was not about tribes. They wanted to vote for candidate X because he was the best, not because he was the right tribe, at least thats what they said. But under it all, there were tribalism after all. Kikuyus are the ones who have been in power for a long time. Most business is run by kikuyus. Luos, traditionally a rival tribe to kikuyus are tired of not having power.
It would have been all nice if Kibaki(a kikuyu) won fair and square, but it doesnt look like he did. Luos are also known to be kinda "noisy"; and Raila(the second candidate, the guy who lost and is pissed off) said wtf, hax, and so did the rest of the opposition.
Wether or not it is a consequence of colonialization is questionable. Yes, things would definately have been different if it werent for the colonization, but you cant tell how. Anyways, it took a time and some lives for the western countries as well to develop a working democracy. The path forward to get that working is shorter than the path back the original way of doing things.
Kenya is clearly marked by the western countries though. I talked to Dag Bredvei, the Africa-correspondent of NRK (big and serious norwegian TV channel), and he said it was kinda sad with kenya: they have a tremendous desire to be "western", and they try really hard. Thats probably why nobody talked about tribes to me before the election. But after suppressing their own culture for so long, the balloon went kaboom.
Anyways, i HATE french keyboards, and this was 2much2read. Have fun!
Some of you know I was there when it started, but got evacuated first to uganda, but now i am in cameroon trying to learn french.
The question we all ask ourselves, "how can a country degenerate into such violence?"
I can't answer that, but i can give my thoughts.
Kenya was known as a very stable and peaceful country in its region, especially since many of its neighbour countries had a lot of troubles. Kenya has been viewed as a model country, managing to keep stability over time.
I was there during the last three months before the election. Everybody was talking about it, and even some people were fighting about it. Why is it so serious business? Back in norway it's like whatever, we don't notice any difference if someone else wins. But in Kenya, where lack of rescourses is a pressing problem, not to mention corruption, the average Kenyan will experience a lot of difference between leaders.
When I asked people, everybody said it was not about tribes. They wanted to vote for candidate X because he was the best, not because he was the right tribe, at least thats what they said. But under it all, there were tribalism after all. Kikuyus are the ones who have been in power for a long time. Most business is run by kikuyus. Luos, traditionally a rival tribe to kikuyus are tired of not having power.
It would have been all nice if Kibaki(a kikuyu) won fair and square, but it doesnt look like he did. Luos are also known to be kinda "noisy"; and Raila(the second candidate, the guy who lost and is pissed off) said wtf, hax, and so did the rest of the opposition.
Wether or not it is a consequence of colonialization is questionable. Yes, things would definately have been different if it werent for the colonization, but you cant tell how. Anyways, it took a time and some lives for the western countries as well to develop a working democracy. The path forward to get that working is shorter than the path back the original way of doing things.
Kenya is clearly marked by the western countries though. I talked to Dag Bredvei, the Africa-correspondent of NRK (big and serious norwegian TV channel), and he said it was kinda sad with kenya: they have a tremendous desire to be "western", and they try really hard. Thats probably why nobody talked about tribes to me before the election. But after suppressing their own culture for so long, the balloon went kaboom.
Anyways, i HATE french keyboards, and this was 2much2read. Have fun!
One of the three basic goals of the European Union was and is to self sufficiency of food sources, which led to the highly subsidized farming industry in Europe. Luckily European policymakers are realizing this policy is a killer for a lot of develloping nations.
Only external issue that has recently helped European farmers is that China is now consuming their own production, which has meant more is needed from local sources.
Face it; there will always be problems. Even in Norway, a country which compared to where i am now works PERFECTLY, has way too much money and everything works smoothly, people always find something to complain about. "ONOZ, the ergonomy of the chairs used in schools are bad!"
But what about those who dont even get to go to school? I often went to visit a school in one of the Nairobi slums. They sat in a dark room without floor, the teacher didnt have a desk, etc etc. And i didnt hear anybody whining about ergonomy...?
My point is, take the biggest problems first, not the closest problems first.
But its also true that the frenchies are trying to avoid losing the subs from the EU.
And I shall !
It's about the tribes, and no you can't blame it on European Imperialism. I wonder when Africa themselves are going to get sick of using that excuse!
In the present context tribalism is bad, as it leads to wrong distribution of goods, but in its original context it wasnt. Now who brought the present context of representative democracy?
However, nobody benefits from putting blame anywhere. We are all part of this planet, hence we should all engage to solve conflicts like this one, regardless of who is to blame.
Look at European royalty (and the upper class to an extent) and how its influence has been completely eroded away.You can't have sub-systems of power within democracy, without someone being pissed off.