Comments on: Why YOU are responsible for the violence in Kenya and what YOU can do about it? (Why is there violence in Kenya after the elections part 1)

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:51:11 +0000

Personally I think the key is education: You remember how in the 60s there were political education classes in different countries for the poor that taught them how the political system works, the history of the political system and most importantly how they can take advantage of it to create the type of society they want. With the rise of the Internet and all these various forms of cheap communication this wouldn’t be expensive or time consuming to set up. I think once this happens, the next time the poor are discontent they can actually direct their fury and anger in the right direction. What do you think?

By: Obura

Obura — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:25:22 +0000

I was a Raila supporter although i am fast becoming neutral. I am not against Kibaki because of his tribe. I love kikuyu’s. Roughly 65-70% of my closest friends are kikuyus. I am against Kibaki for one reason; one fundamental error he made and for which he will be judged by history-his toleration of corruption.

Kibaki has not only tolerated the corruption of his close political allies, but is himself corrupt. If we let him stay, we will send a message to the pollitical class that we are willing to compromise on such issues and tolerate such faiure in leadership…

Kenya needs above all else a new political system based on pertinent issues rather than personalities, otherwise it will always be tribal. Are there any suggestion as to how this change can be achieved without destroying our nation?

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:55:02 +0000

Thank you very much for sharing that. Interestingly your sentiments were almost mirrored exactly by a very profound and heartfelt nation article I read a couple of days back(http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=114025). I think all we need now is a clear understanding of what our brothers and sisters on the imagined ‘other side of the fence’ think and hopefully we can get to a place of common understanding though it looks like the situation is calming down now thanks to Jendayi Frazer(http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/41/raila-and-kibaki-to-bring-end-to-kenya-riots/)

By: Loice

Loice — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:53:06 +0000

Let me say i am saddened by the happenings in our country today. as a kenyan leaving outside the country i have been pround of the fact that Kenya has been relatively stable ans we have always tolerated one another even though we may not like one another.
But as a kikuyu, i know my relatives in the rift valley were quire warily of Odingas win. They were not sure that Odinga would offer them any protection. Kikuyus have been perceived to have stolen other peoples land after independence and other tribes want the out of their zones. having been born in the rift valle i do not know where we are sopposed to go back to , yet other tribes living near my mother had already given them an early warning to leave after the elections. Therefore whether Odinga won or lost, death was inevitable. were the kikuyus to sit back and have their hard earned labout taken by other tribes/ would odinga accord Kikuyus any protection if they were told to pack and leave?
yet Kibaki will rule for all tribes. he is not coming to give any tribe matching orders neither will he give the kikuyus any priviledges.
Therefore at this time in history when flares are so high, kibaki is the best bet for Kenya as the healing process takes place and a neutral candidate emerges who has no bitterness or anger against one group of People.
To my fellow kikuyus, next election, we have to support a non kikuyu if we have to gain the confidence of out brothers and sisters. other tribes perceive as as selfish and domineering and we have to proof them wrong by being inclusice.

loice