Hi everyone. Welcome to Deeana in Oregon, Kalenga in Uganda (but from DR Congo) and Zainab in Iraq – three of a fair few of you who have signed up to the Daily Email while I’ve been off. Good to have you all with us.
Jared in Kampala suggests, ‘that Kenyan elections should be the talk today. I feel there were multiple irregularities that should be put into attention. EU observers note it, but it is ignored!!!’
Ignored by some perhaps, denied by others and most definitely talked about by the thousands of people getting in touch with the BBC. And irregularities are no longer the only story. We now have reports that over a hundred people have died in the violent reaction to Mwai Kibaki’s victory. So can you help us answer the two fundamental questions at the heart of this story?
1. What’s happening?
WHYS has many listeners in Kenya – if you are one of them, can you help us tell the world what is going on? If you’d like to come on air or just write your experiences, please get in touch.
2. What should be done?
…and this applies not just to Kenyans but to all of you. Should pressure be brought to bear on President Kibaki? Are Kenyans right to take to the streets or should the courts be the only place to turn? And should the international community – which has invested millions in Kenya – do more than furrow its diplomatic brow at how the election was conducted? Is it time for donors to stop donating? And finally, is this a matter for Kenyans, for Africans and for everyone to sort out?
Lots of questions…. we’ll get your reports and analysis later.
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BBC World Have Your Say 
With Malaysia, and now Kenya, for discussion, you ask should other countries step in.
Kenyans can and will sort out Kenya politics.
No other nation can or will do this.
Africans should learn to rule by respecting democratic principles. This can make it easy for their countries to have fair elections. Ruling through nepotism and corruption has its effect in elections as each side tries to use whatever means to get elected including vote rigging and violence.
Election campaigns in Kenya were marred by relative violence to become even worse after the result announcement with about one hundred deaths and extensive damages to property. It’s no wonder if the results are controversial and disputed by all side in the absence of fair play by all sides to get undisputed results.
In Kenya, although it was a good step to have elections to give power to the voice of people, the delay in announcing the results has put in question the fairness of the elections as the defeated party sees the delay as a way to rig votes and not to count them.
For the election commission to hold talks with the parties and international election monitors means voting was flawed and a compromise is needed by the parties. This means people’s choice at the ballot boxes can be set aside to satisfy the political forces in the country. Elections will be for many just a sham.
It’s time for African leaders during elections to admit defeat, if they haven’t got enough votes, just at the close of polling stations and to reassure their supporters of a better day. Each claiming victory in elections is in itself an invitation to unrest as each seeks their supporters to impose themselves at the expense of political and social stability.
In African elections, the accustomed use of terms like vote rigging and corruption just reinforces the idea that many African haven’t yet reached political maturity and their political level is still as low their economic and social one. It seems that in Africa to be a leader on should have an armed force behind. Civilian vote is used just as a façade to celebrate an event with dances and speeches and not to count it or use it as an account of who should be in power.
what is hapenning is this:
elections are rigged in the full view of all the stakeholders in the process, including the international observers.the electoral commission did not take heed when alerted about the anormalies before the anouncement of the results.
this angered the ordinary citizens who felt betrayed when their choice of candidate was not respected.
what should be is this:
the kenyans vote must count and the mr.kibaki must convince them that their votes favoured them rightfully.i suggest kibaki resigns and seeks mandate afresh.
anyone who dies while defending his constitutional rights has indeed met a worthy death
There’s no doubt in any right thinking individual that the elections were stolen after massive, open irregularities and rigging. The Kibaki administration lacks the credibility to govern after failing to get the people’s mandate.
The ECK has let down all Kenyans, who had faith in the institution. Kenya was supposed to lead the way to democracy in Africa by being a showcase of how to run free and fair elections. Instead, we have become the laughing stock of the continent and the entire world, after demonstrating HOW to rig elections and get away with it!
I call upon Kibaki to see sanity and give up the office to the People’s President who just won the mandate and legitimacy to govern.
I also call upon the Kibaki regime to lift the media ban on live broadcasts and allow people their fundamental right to peaceful demonstrations, so that we can have an Orange Revolution to bring down this government of dishonest cronies.
The international community should also be blamed for not taking a strong stance against the Kibaki regime after the open and clear rigging process of the juts concluded elections. I amNOT disappointed at the conduct of the US embassy and its ambassador, for being so soft on Kibaki, since it is common knowledge that the USA gives only lip service to democracy.
Let all Kenyans rise to the challenge and defend their country against the excesses of its government.
Thank You.
Ali Hassan
COPER IK, Nigeria. (email)
Kenyans and Africans in general should always remember that GOD makes and unmakes king.They should result to prayers instead of violence.
I don’t understand why Kibaki is so dearly holding to power unless he has something to hide.
Kibaki has now pitted the Kikuyu’s against, the other 41 tribes in Kenya and it will not be good for the state if he stays in office.
He, has to leave office and public life altogether and I think he should be held to account for the death of over 100 people.
Kenya is one of Africa’s biggest economy, and alot of countries depend on a stable Kenya for their own economic prosperity, so this not only affects Kenya, but a whole lot of countries, so other countries should step in and stop this.
Charles, Kenya
Kenya has in the past seen instances of alleged election rigging when the country was under former President Moi’s leadership. The country did not collapse then and will not collapse now. As the foreign affairs minister told BBC today, the violence will be quelled in two or three days.
Charles, Kenya (email)
Kenya has in the past seen instances of alleged election rigging when the country was under former President Moi’s leadership. The country did not collapse then and will not collapse now. As the foreign affairs minister told BBC today, the violence will be quelled in two or three days.
I wanted Kibaki to win. No secret there…
BUT! I did not want him to win this way. It is sad that we have a process that on the face of it appears to be flawed in as far as tallying is concerned. I am not a Kikuyu but I have friends who are. And all this killing is not good. But your question is what can be done?
This is a hard question. First we need to get the TRUST working. There is not trust and unless this can be sorted out first, this is going no where. As long as Raila can not trust Kibaki (and Kibaki has not helped here) I fear that all we can do now is pray. The solution must be left for God now.
timmyJL
Ato-Kwamina BINEY (email)
Few days ago I told you, that is, your sister programme, World today, that the opposition’s use of corruption and tribalism in particular was only going to spark off violence in the end. What most opposition parties in Africa use in their quest for power is playing on the ethnic and tribal sentiments of the people especially the unfortunate ones, that is, the illiterate folk. As a Ghanaian I see similar trend in the next year’s general election in Ghana; but, thank God Ghanaians are mature and with vibrant, poen media attempt by any group of people to resort to that trick will backfire at their face.
something has to be done about rigging of elections in africa. the elections in malawi , zambia and now kenya have been rigged. but the west does nothing to punish these riggers. instead they are given millions in aid. no wonder rigging can never end in africa because these riggers know they will not be brought to book. africa is being ruled by presidents who are not elected. bingu wa mutharika of malawi rigged the election. but today he is being heralded by the west. no wonder there is no rule of law in malawi. the west is supporting new age dictotors in africa.
ashok, mombasa (email)
the rigging of the elections is a clear evidence of failure of the international community in financing the kibaki regimes ‘fight against corruption’.
– big problem of finding mobile recharge units…which is the primary means of communication.
kibaki has rigged the election
in some stations the votes casted were over 115 percent!
A.M.Moh d…Msa (text)
We blame all the chaos on Kibaki and his buddies but former Pres.Moi is the engineer behind it all.He is the one blocking the ascendance of Mr.Raila to the presidence.He d rather see the country disintegrate than Raila being in power…
Davis, KANUNGU, UGANDA. (text)
What has happened in Kenya is a mockery of DEMOCRACY.
Roy Uganda (text)
Raila has been elected by kenyans as the fourth president, kibaki is robbing us and has no business in office he should resign and allow Raila to serve kenyans.
At worst, the tally should be done again to confirm with results at constituency levels. Its the only way to convince the doubting Thomas!
I think a recount of the votes should be ordered, and this time round all accredited observers must be allowed to observe the process. There is no way President Kibaki can be deemed to have fairly won the elections when the EU Observers have at least given evidence to a situation where the results from one area that they observed were “miraculously” doubled for President Kibaki at the national level. This can’t be fair!
Samoei/ sotik/ kenya (text)
What happened was not a win but a coup. Kibaki has taken us 20 years backward. Kenya is over.
Martin Mbugua, Delaware, USA (email)
The introduction remark about the possibility of the developed world withholding so-called “aid” to Kenya in response to events is reminiscent of the yoke of neocolonialism that Kenya has successfully shed in the past five years to become a stronger nation. It is sad to see our beloved country at such a deadly crossroads, but Kenya should be allowed to sort out its political issues without pontification from self-serving Western powers. The apparent glee with which the foreign press has pounced on the situation underlines the only kind of story that draws their attention: chaos and bloodshed in Africa. Given Kenya’s long-time stability and critical role in regional peace, it is in the best interest of many more than just Kenyans for the country to overcome the challenge, heal the wounds and rise even higher.
Uswege Mwaipyana, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. (email)
I think Mr Kibaki is not an irresponsible leader. You don´t need a degree in mathematics to tell the summing of votes didn´t go well. Everybody knows about the irregularity in Kenyan election. I argue the international community to step in and pressurize Mr Kibaki.
Ibrahim,Mombasa. (text)
It is a sad day for kenya.The solution is to have a national unity government to run the country for two years and in that period to create new rules for elections which will free and fair.
Limo frm eldoret. (text)
By hook or crook dictator kibaki retained power. The same way we shall see to it that he leave.
CHRIS NAIROBI.(text)
MWAI KIBAKI WON THE ELECTION ILLEGALLY, RAILA PRODUCED AN OFFICIAL FROM THE ECK WHO WITNESSED RIGGING WHY IS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IGNORING THE EVIDENCE?
Petros Mlenga-Malawi. (text)
Elections in Africa will never be free n fair. Incumbent Presidents win. Mr Odinga accept the results 4 the benefit of an avge person.
Ben Limo.Nairobi (text)
Please tel Mr Kibaki 2 follow law then us kenyans wil follow suit.But if he breaks law 1 st how about us? Why 75000 when he got 50000 in molo.
Kinyanjui wa Njeru (text)
Hi,been a kenyan presdent,is been above the law,he steals,kills,run the country like his property,the presidental election should be redone.
Dear BBC,
I am a Kenyan studying in Canada. Having been born and raised in Kenya for 20 years, this is the message I have:
Dear Mr. Kibaki, you were my favourite candidate for this election.
Congratulations Mr. Kibaki, being a candidate from my own home town Nyeri, you will now be remembered in the annuls of Kenya’s History as a classic Dictator.
Is power this tasty? Are over a 100 lives nothing for you? The Trinity of Electral fraud, Restricting freedom of expression and a catalyst to civil war is not how you want your name to be remembered.
The ones who are suffering are the innocent ones while you lavish in your heavily fortified State House. My friends have long-fled to Tanzania and the ones who are there in Nairobi live in fear.
Every Kenyan has the right to express his right of freedom of expression and when tyranny prevails, my heart is with all the Kenyans who will march to get rid of dicatorship in Kenya on Thursday.
Dear Bwana Kibaki, you tried in your 5 years. You are not a bad man, I am begging you to allow democracy to prevail and prevent the brutal police from targetting the poor and shooting to kill.
I beg the International Community to intervene and allow Democracy to Prevail.
From the bottom of my heart,
Shahbaz
Toronto, Canada
Howard from Jamaica (text)
I believe the issues in Kenya are causing from a immature electorial system. And i also believe they have to change the whole system.
Tedla Asfaw, New York (email)
We had the same experience in Ethiopia in 2005 and like now USA advised the opposition not to come out on the streets rather go to court and the opposition following that advise ended up in jail.
Street protest is the way forward and let all Kenyans come out this Thursday and protest for their votes to count.
Wambui. (email)
I am a kikuyu living abroad. i have been proud to be a kenyan until now!
My message to Kibaki- please listen to the will of the people. Kenya does not belong to a tribe but to all kenyans. The gains made in the last 40 years can be easily wiped out by short sighted greed.
We do not need or deserve another ivory coast. Please go home and let democracy prevail and for that you will save our beloved nation.
To my fellow Kenyans in kenyan. Those celebrating please be aware that there are no winners in a catastrophe.
All kenyans unite to restore democracy. My children and those of other million Kenyans do not even speak mother-tongue of their parent. Why should a tribe be a matter of life &death in this times??
Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako, London (email)
I think a recount of the votes should be ordered, and this time round all accredited observers must be allowed to observe the process. There is no way President Kibaki can be deemed to have fairly won the elections when the EU Observers have at least given evidence to a situation where the results from one area that they observed were “miraculously” doubled for President Kibaki at the national level. This can’t be fair!
Hilum in Nairobi. (email)
I’m disappointed in our politicians on both sides since they are just concerned about gettin into power or retaining power.
I never thought i will ever hear the word dictatorship used to describe a government in kenya but i heard kibaki’s leadership been described as such.
We are paralyzed we cannot go to work, travel or even get credit for our phönes. Can our politicians humble themselves for the greater good of kenya. Our nation is greater than all of us.
May God bless Kenya.
Mithun R, Nairobi, Kenya (email)
Well, this is definitely not the right way to welcome this coming New Year. But, in a way, I can’t even blame Raila or his supporters for this outburst. Indeed, its very clear or very clear to me, that the overnight lead for Hon. Kibaki is a result of massive rigging.
Alongside that, there are even other events, especially the move by ECK, that has created doubts in our mind.
If I was Kibaki’s advisor, I would ask him to step down or ask the ECK for a recount if we need to have a peaceful Kenya. However, killing people, especially the citizens living in slums is definitely not right.
Mark of Nairobi. (email)
I think Mwai Kibaki who is 76years old and has been in power since 1963 and who also lost in these elections needs to do the honorable thing n resign. If he does not resign – Kenyas who die – their blood will be on his hands.
Some people are saying Raila needs to concede but am saying No – he is the only leader strong enough to stand up to this Govt. He stood up against Moi and he can stand up against Mwai Kibaki.
Another thing Mwai Kibaki is on record threatening Moi with mass action if he did not hand over power in 2002.
Lawson T. Jallah from the U.S (email)
please give chance to others to rule. it is how ever clear that You did not wing the election so, make way for your Friend to rule.
Kenyans have exercised their civic rights.That was a good news to come out in good numbers and cast their votes for their favorite candidate.The Kenyan people having seen that the results were full of malpractices to help Kibaki remain in power, has made them to be more upset and had to take to the streets to protests.But taking the lives of their people was not the best options.Some were not there to venture out their anger,but to steal from shops which has become a habit in Africa eachtime there is rioting. Vote rigging had happened in Nigeria,Morroco and S/Leone and it can happen in Zimbabwe very soon.Many Africans have always wanted change by voting for good leaders who can improve their lives a little bit.It is high time those African presidents that are incompetence to rule,accept defeat.Pressure cannot do anything good to a wuss President in the eyes of Kenyans.These such of people care only for themselves and their families.Incidents like these will there ever be a future for the poor? The International community is not doing enough to help the people of Kenya rather the aid money which they send for those poor and needy children are not reaching them and it just ends in the pockets of the so-called elites in the country.For Africa to have a real democracy is like day dreaming, which is full of fanciful things.The question is this;how long the people of Kenya will have to sacrifice themseves to have a good leader that can stamp out corruption and lawlessness in the country?When Africans will abandon the system of ethnicity and lookforward to a brighter future?Are Kenyans going to have the same President who is not willing to remove his people from slums despite the huge money given to him by foreign donours?Stop the illegal land grabbing?That will be another catastrophy.I wish all Kenyans to have a good leader different from Kibaki again and his desciples.
As a Kenyan, I feel angered when the democratic process is subjected to rape.The time of tyrany is over and not to come again.Can the EU and the USA come in full force and let the illegitimacy in elections be ended.I am not endorsing violence at my home country, but I’m urging Kibaki to act a MAN with full patriotism and step down.He will not enjoy leading corpses.Why is he under hostage from his central province Mafia?Why should he subject the Innocent Kikuyus to suffering?Please fellow Kenyans do not relent until your voice through the ballot is heard.
We are not satisfied with the arrogant mathematical manipulation of elections.
Why is it that only when elections are stolen in developing countries does the international community protest? In 2000 and 2004, George W. Bush and his Republican Party cohorts stole the Presidential election in America; yet, the world accepts his fraudulent presidency without protesting — even following him and his marching orders to invade Iraq.
Bashir from eastern Uganda (text)
I’m very disapointed with kibaki. More than 8 dead in busia no food people are now refugees in uganda plz let the UN come 2 our rescue.
Lisa, Nairobi (text)
Its pitiful i cannot walk in my own country without being scard its sick we feel insulted our voting was rigged i’m celebrating new year at home.
K.K. Accra.(text)
Kenyans should sort out their political differences in a civilized manner & quit the savagery.
Terewa, Kenya. (text)
I know Kibaki might have contemplated resigning but he’s under pressure from his wife & Mr. Michuki not to. But this seems the only way out.
Samson Mabwoga, A Kenyan in India (email)
The situation in Kenya is just but a demonstration of most African leaders that once they come into power,they want to sit in office even when things are collapsing.Given Kenyas peaceful history President Kibaki should realize that people are demanding their right.
Charistos (email)
i am african and very proudly so.
why can’t we sit down and fashion out a way that will work to rule ourselves???!!!
it is obvious all over the continent that there’s something wrong.
this is not and can not be the only system of government that can work.
as long the basic tenets of human rights are guaranteed, let’s find what suits us for who we are.
it may work in the western world, that doesn’t mean it would/should work for us!!!!!!
goodness!
James Wachai, United States (email)
I am a Kenyan, actually a Kikuyu, living in the United States. Politicians from both sides of the political divide are to blame. ODM leaders are blatantly tribalistic, and so are those from PNU. For instance, how can the ODM leader Raila Odinga says that President Kibaki was elected by only two communities? Here Raila was referring to Kikuyus and Merus. The president received votes from all eight provinces, including Raila Odinga’s own Luo Nyanza. By making this statement, is Raila not inflaming tribal passions? From the reports I have read both ODM and PNU engaged in some sort of rigging. So, no single political camp can claim high political moral ground. The only way to resolve the current political imbroglio is for the ODM to subject itself to the judicial process. Wanton destruction of private property and killings along ethnic lines will not drive President Kibaki from power.
James Onyango, Kaloleni, Nairobi (emails)
All is not lost for us Luo tribespeople who have missed the Kenyan Presidency. Our own Barrack Obama will in the new year prove to the world that a Luo person can lead even the world’s greatest nation when he wins US Presidential elections.
James. Nrb. (text)
What else can kenyans do when our democratic rights are taken away by a corrupt electral commision?. We ll rather die than be robed. We are saying RAILA is the winner.
Zora, Kenya (email)
As a Black British guy, of Caribbean descent, I have lived in Kenya for 3 Months. I have no tribal affiliation whatsoever.
What we have witnessed over these last few days, is corruption of the highest order.
After seeing ordinary Kenyans queuing for up to 16 hours in the boiling heat, to cast their ballot on Thursday, I felt guilty that I rarely bothered to vote while living in the UK.
These peoples aspirations have been stolen.
There was a blatant disrespect, not just for Luo’s or other tribes, but a disrespect of the democratic process. My heart bleeds man, because for the time I have been here, I can tell you – Kenyans are naturally peaceful people. The Electoral Commision have failed and no one has any faith in them.
The is one solution – without casting any aspersion – some one needs to step down.
I work in media here (I have even hosted World Have Your Say – hope u guys are cool 😉 Our radio station had to go onto automate last night.
You cannot untribalise africa, but these things will exacerbate the issues.
“Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not me make angry. It merely astonishes me. How anyone can deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It’s beyond me.
Sombo, USA (email)
I am a Malawian living in the USA.
I am one of the new breed of Africans who believe that we need African solutions to African problems. Let Africans fight each other and shed each other’s blood until such a time when we will have no desire to fight, but solve our problems peacefully.
Cause for concern:
There is very little that those of us outside Kenya can do to help those in Kenya *other than urge our governments to take a fervent stand against the Kenyan government’s atrocious disregard for democracy.
From someone who has worked in legal and human rights development in Kenya in the past year, this is a giant step backward.
I fear for the safety and well-being of all of my colleagues and friends in Kenya who tell me they have not left their homes in days, have been unable to get food, access the news or ensure cellular access.
There is incredible cause for concern.
Nadia Khan
Canada
Lawyer
Robert, born in Mombasa, called to say:
Poverty blinds judgement. British people can’t understand the poverty that leads to the desperation that makes people riot when they feel their hopes have been taken.
Julie, Kenya (email)
My family and I live in Eldoret. I direct an FM radio station but cannot go back to broadcasting because anything we air right now could be misread. A lot of people are losing their lives and property. My brief comment is the international community needs to act now rather than later to pressurise Kibaki to resign and hand over power peacefully. If the world neglects Kenya as it has other African countries, it will be a major mistake.
Charlotte, (email)
I must say the contrast between the atmosphere – after the elections – in 2002 and now, is staggering.
I am a Kenyan and had been impressed at the way the electorate and politicians had handled such a crucial election.
fast forward to 2007 and one finds it very difficult indeed to imagine that violence taking place now, is happening in the same country. If a week in politics is a long time, then surely five years must be an absolute age.
Chuck P, please you lose your credibility completely when you say things like that, so nobody can take what you have to say clearly. Bush won in 2000 and 2004. 2000 was a close call, lots of controversy. But in 2004, Bush won, it wasn’t even close, and for you to say he “stole” the election shows what a poor sport/crybaby you are. I didn’t vote for him, I wasn’t glad he won, but lying about the results doesn’t speak highly about you or your opinions.
I wish to denounce the KCA press release comments on election results. KCA is just a group that is represented by one particular tribe in kenya. It’s name has long been misleading and I would like to make it clear that ,KCA does not represent all Kenyans abroad . We, Kenyans abroad from all over the world are equally dissappointed by the ECk and kibaki goverment for what it has plunged our counrty into.We are massively calling for Kibaki to step down and pave way for Raila, the president chosen by majority of the people from all the tribes in Kenya.
Mr Mwai Kibaki stole the election using pliant and heavily compromised electoral commissioners whom he appointed. His second term is a bandit presidency and he hopes to prop it up using brutal police force, murdering innocent lives. Innocent Kenyans are butchering each other while he curdles at Statehouse deluding himself with the vein hope that Kenyans will tire out of street battles. Now the world knows Kibaki for who he is, a deformer rather than a reformer. Kenyans rejected him and 23 of his ministers. His party has ONLY 35 MPs while Mr Odinga’s party has 100 MPs-elect. Kibaki led in two out of Kenya’s eight provinces, Raila swept the other six. Does it make sense that then he becomes the winner?
The International Human rights organisations should move fast and probe police-sponsored genocide in Kenya. It is a human catastrophe there. There is a virtual state of emergency and people cannot buy food or seek medical attention. This is costing people a lot economically because Kibaki wants to batter the country to accept his stolen presidency. The International community MUST rise to the occasion and isolate Kibaki to force him give power to the people and the “Peoples’ President”, Raila Odinga. Anything less than that is to legitimise an overthrow of the constitution of Kenya. Act now before Kenyans flood world capitals seeking asylum.
A happy and healthy New Year to all.
Tribal differences are the root problem in many African Countries, do we really understand the depth of loyalty to ones own clan?.
Many leaders are helped to keep power by people that have advantages from the corruption and mismanagement that acours when despots rule. It is obvious that this is one of the problems in Kenya. Look at the speed in which the man was proclaimed president.
Thousand of people loose their lives, children hunger, are not educated, and have no future what so ever. Sadly the rest of the world looks on, and reacts according to their individual countries needs, and not as a world community looking for the best for all people.
Business interests, power, raw materials, and greed are the driving force in our world to-day. Our elected do not have our interest in mind, once in power to them we are just a percentage in the voting statistic.
PS. Thanks BBC for 2007, and what i know will be a good 2008 in the news and entertainment world.
John
Vote rigging or no voting rigging candidates should know better of their remedies under the law. Calling people to incitement or to the streets is by no means a clever way to achieve your means. Other appropriate means are available such as trying to pass a vote of no confidence.
The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) is a constitutionally appointed body charged with the responsibility of ensuring a free and fair electoral process. The Chairman of the Commission spoke and announced Kibaki as the new president. I have no misgivings about him as a person and I do not believe he has sided with any side. He did his job and announced the results as deemed them to be fair. For the opposition to implicate the ECK as complicit in the vote rigging/irregularity is simply unacceptable. There may have been some irregularities but this was on both sides. In every issue there are two sides of a story. We have only heard the side of the opposition so let us also hear they other side.
Why is it the opposition leader calling on President Kibaki to set aside? Why can it not be Raila backing down and accepting there are better avenues to address his concerns/grievances? To simply incite people to violence is unacceptable, for example, calling them to banned demonstrations. It is deplorable of our leaders to do such things. Everybody should adhere to the law and nobody irrespective of position in society should be allowed to flout the law and instigate anarchy.
Such leaders walk the streets; sit, travel and sleep in environs guarded by armed guards whilst the general populace are left to the mercy of the imbalances of society, injustices and prevailing anarchy. Leaders who call others to violence are wealthy often having acquired their wealth scrupulously. Whilst the common person has no alternative these people can easily flee the country by chartering flights to fly them including families in the event that the situation is irreversible.
Raila who claims to be a champion/leader of the people (poor) is a very wealthy person. It is a known fact that he and many in his party have often been implicated in corrupt scandals. Whilst as Members of Parliament they earn close to £10,000 per month whilst the general population survives with barely an average of about £40 per month. This is shameful of these MP’s which Raila who have unjustifiably continued to increase there salaries whilst the common person continues to live in abject poverty. They have simply been too greedy to justify themselves are true champions of the people. They have been despicable and a total sham and scam. I feel they have all let the people down.
The truth of the matter is that he and many in his party are not Mr.Clean as he has lead many to believe. Most of them are unfortunately contaminated in a lot of the past filth and corruption that has completely run down the country. They are not true to themselves and not statesmen; shame on them all.
They should not be leaders simply because it is easy to fool the masses. Peace be to Kenya.
I am a Kenyan. For the first time, I do not feel any pride in calling myself a Kenyan. After the 2002 elections, I proudly uttered the words “Kibaki my President”. Now, those same words choke me. At this point in time, Raila is my President until such a time when Kibaki accepts a reelection and wins genuinely. How dare he thanks Kenyans for electing him and for extending his mandate for another five years! Even worse, he adds that he accepts the job with humility and that he will serve the people with integrity. Is this what he means by directing all media stations not to air live productions through Michuki? Furthermore, the order to shoot and kill innocent people, who in reality are fighting for their democratic rights, is unacceptable. Afterall, isn’t he a criminal by virtue of rigging the elections? Why then should the common man not engage in the same criminal activities? I do not advocate for violence, but the Kenyan legal system, like most in Africa, will not help. Aren’t the judges Kibaki’s cronies anyway?
With more pressure on Kibaki and freezing of any foregn aid and support, I believe he will eventually allow the People’s President to lead the country. The ongoing violence is not the issue; his dishonoring of the people’s voice and imposing himself upon them is the problem – the solution is, rather than fighting the people, resigning. Only then, will the violence cease.
BBC,
The needless deaths of Kenyans that followed the stealing of their victory is condemnable. Kenyans were free to vote for whomever they wanted to, the election was free and relatively orderly. However, the vote counting, though infiltrated unsuccessfully by pre-marked counterfeit ballot papers was equally protected by vigilant observers. People didn’t know that the enemies of democracy were plotting to spoil our democracy. Vote tallying was characterised by something Kenyans had hitherto not known about Kibaki. That he is a spineless dictator with little or no respect for democracy and consultation is confirmed by the ruthlessness with which the First Lady slaps people around. She has had to steel herself, and now we know what Kibaki understands.
The constitution was overthrown, an election was rubbished and the international community has to isolate Kibaki. Unless something dramatic happens, Kibaki will not yield. Could the Commonwealth suspend Kenya’s membership. Please recall or send away some of Kenya’s embassy officials. Kibaki will delude himself that people will yield, meanwhile the international community is awaiting another Mugabe in Kenya. The consequences of allowing Kenya to degenerate into another Zimbabwe may be profound from the perspective of the war on terror and certainly the world is not ready for a ‘deluge’ of Kenyan asylum seekers. The world has to force Kibaki to stop the genocide in Kenya. We need to restore democracy in Kenya, NOW.
You dont need much intelligence to know that the election was blatantly and rudely rigged. All the ODM has to do is publish the authentic form 16As in the newspapers. Macharia Gaitho and other Daily Nation journalists have been waiting since day before yesterday.
There is a perception that all kikuyus support what happened. Well, I didnt and am a kikuyu. Raila is the kind of president that the country needs right now. Strong, with a workable solution to the myriad problems facing Kenya. That he was robbed of his chance to lead is the worst injustice.
And so it pains me to see him playing right into kibaki’s trap. Whatever makes Raila and Ruto think kibaki cares for the plight of the kikuyus being killed in western kenya? The way he handled the rigging shows that he couldnt care less. The longer this violence against innocent kikuyus continues, the less likely that Raila will get the presidency.
This is how it works out: Since yesterday the main issue has been the burning of 30-40 kikuyu women and children in a church in Eldoret. Perfect diversion. Mutua (government spokesman) calls it ethnic cleansing. The world community remembers Rwanda, everyone calls on Raila to stop the violence, he says he is powerless, they start thinking of him as a terrorist and ODM as a terrorist organisation, and this diverts everyones attention from the election irregularities to the massacres.
Meanwhile, Kibaki calls for time to sort out the security mess before any talks or reconciliation. The kikuyus also get tired of watching as their people get killed and start organising themselves for retaliation. And the circle continues, giving kibaki more time, and more leeway to rule by decree. Meanwhile he quickly recruits his tribesmen into the security forces, arms them, and takes them out to “control the situation”. The result? More violence, more hatred, fewer solutions.
Whatever the outcome, it is in Raila’s best interests to stop the violence. And let him not fool anyone by telling the BBC that he is powerless. All he has to do is talk in dholuo, Mudavadi in luhya and Ruto in Kalenjin and call their pointmen.
Finally the kalenjin of Eldoret have a heavy curse lying on them for burning innocent women and children in a church. They should organise a cleansing ceremony, that it may fall on the perpetrators alone.But first things first.
The dynamics playing out now in Kenya may be obvious to many but the reality is not so simple.
Take the kalenjin. We havent managed to contact my grandma in kuresoi since monday. At that time they were hiding in a maize plantation. We still hope to get in touch though her phone rings without being picked. The Kalenjin love causing chaos during harvest time so that the Kikuyus run away and the former take the harvest. This time they have another excuse. The elections.
Deep in Nandi is a private university. The kalenjins burnt down the car and kitchen on a kamba. He is not a PNU supporter. They had previous grudges.
The Luos love looting because they dont own any businesses. The businesses are owned by the kikuyus that they envy so much. Killing innocent women and Children surely is not justified. How many votes did they steal? What is happening here is ethnic cleansing. Why didnt they kill kalenjins when Moi rigged elections?
I am a Kenyan. For the first time, I do not feel any pride in calling myself a Kenyan. After the 2002 elections, I proudly uttered the words “Kibaki my President”. Now, those same words choke me. At this point in time, Raila is my President until such a time when Kibaki accepts a reelection and wins genuinely. How dare he thanks Kenyans for electing him and for extending his mandate for another five years! Even worse, he adds that he accepts the job with humility and that he will serve the people with integrity. Is this what he means by directing all media stations not to air live productions through Michuki? Furthermore, the order to shoot and kill innocent people, who in reality are fighting for their democratic rights, is unacceptable. Afterall, isn’t he a criminal by virtue of rigging the elections? Why then should the common man not engage in the same criminal activities? I do not advocate for violence, but the Kenyan legal system, like most in Africa, will not help. Aren’t the judges Kibaki’s cronies anyway? Even worse, shortly after “being sworn in as winner”, he stifled the freedom of the press to air live broadcasts, then ordered the police to shoot-to-kill. As if that was not enough, he interfered with the citizens’ rights to interpersonal communication by limiting their communication through safaricom, a mobile telephone company. How much more must we take from this dictator and his cronies?
With more pressure on Kibaki and freezing of any foreign aid and support, I believe he will eventually allow the People’s President to lead the country. Tribal affiliation is not the reason for violence (the Luos, Kalenjins, Luhya, some Kisiis, and people of the coast are all fighting against the Kikiyu); his dishonoring of the people’s voice and imposing himself upon them is the problem – the solution is, rather than fighting the people, resigning. Only then, will the violence cease.
Please stop the violence. Kibaki should step down. Violence is not a solution. They tried in Ruanda it never worked, pakistan it never worked , it will not work in kenya too. Kibaki should respect the peoples choice if he rigged the elections. Why did he rush to be sworn in ? Its looks like he knew he had already rigged enough votes to win even before they anounced the results. How could he show up in less than an hour to be sworn in. He cannot even talk to the people now. What have you just done to our beloved country mr kibaki and your people?
We should have a different body count the votes next time because they contributed big time too.
Sorry innocent kenyans. Please stop slaughtering your neighbour or burning his property. These are polital games. Love your neighbour as you love yourself .
God bless Kenya.
Peace ! Peace! peace in Kenya .
from NAIROBI
now the truth be told, some of the problems we as kenyan are encoutering in the country right now are as a result of mainly unequitable distribution of wealth and reasources in the country and this is mainly because of the consolidated power that our constitution has placed in the highest office in kenya.”power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and like a time bomb its preparation takes a longer time but it only takes a moment to explode and cause death and loss.Now since kenya got independence it is beyond doubt that the KIKUYU tribe of kenya were the main beneficiaries of the abadoned fertile land by white settlers in the kenyan highlands,then came a president who again originated from the same tribe and so throughout his tenure as the president he tried to ensure that the kikuyu tribe is well guarded in all its undertakings and economic prosperity,for instance(what explains the number of industries placed in the small town of central kenya of THIKA yet some of them are very far away from the origin of the raw product) and the reason is clear – all this was done to ensure that the economic status of the region(central province) cherishes as compared to the rest of the regions.this is just one reason leave alone the insentives given to coffee farmers which is a major cash crop found in the cetral province of kenya.all this factors including others not able to be mentioned here have contributed to the increased economic potential of the KIKUYU tribe.then this with time has made central province an overcrowded region with rich people who then in their bid to concure the whole country have moved out to other regions in the name of investin yet it is economic syphoning.This has intern been supported by the political power that has favoured the KIKUYU tribe helping them obtain land in other region, and many other opportunities.And now the problem comes in where after all this advantages that this one tribe has enjoyed overtime while other tribes suffer this same tribe beleives that all the other tribes since they are relatively poor are also stupid and so they are the ones with the wisdom to LEAD the country supposedly till christ comes back and now the other tribes in the country see this as a mockery of humanity and thats where all this violence now starts and as i said like a time bomb its takes time for preparations but the explosion is instant and so many tribes in kenya having been fed up with the ways of the kikuyu tribe in the country was just waiting for the moment of ignition and that came after the announcement of the contencious election results -thanx to one Mr kibaki and his allies. and so the issue is all KIKUYUs have to go back to their motherland so that all of us can start afresh in other words Kenya is undergong ethnic cleansing and so the hope for kenya going bak to where it was is a dream because as the current president(KIKUYU) knows it when leadership shifts to another tribe then the kikuyus are the ones to suffer and may be the only way is to stick to power where he can continue making decisions that favour his tribe of orign.