Kenya's election results disputed

[matttbastard]

Croghan27: Same area.  I think that, for some, it is easier to believe that a threat to stability and security is external, even if the facts contradict these necessary illusions.  

More from the blogs: via Kenyan Pundit, Insight Kenya reports that Ugandan troops are now operating within Kenya.

ETA: Amazing two-part post from M @ Thinker's Room that tries to explain what the hell has happened--and why.

[Croghan27]

It is beginning to look as if this Raila has bit off more than can handled: Internal civilian violent dissent, even if expressed through tribal loyalities: foreign neighbours admitting he (Ugandian President Yoweri Museveni) has never been particularly fond of Raila and there were discussions before the elections about the implications of a Raila win.

I have no idea what the presence Ugandian troops means - but I hope a discpilined force will be able to stop the killing.

[GDKitty]

ETA: Amazing two-part post from M @ Thinker's Room that tries to explain what the hell has happened--and why.

Mattt, those blogs are invaluable. I was particularly taken by Thinker's room.  For e.g. (from part II):

   * A good chunk of the sitting Electoral Commission’s commissioners were replaced with new ones. With the knowledge that one of the new commissioners is the President’s personal lawyer, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to divine the fact that they probably were loyal to the President.
    * The knee jerk reaction to replace the chairman as well was overturned at the last minute to give the commission the perception of independence. Kivuitu was largely trusted by both sides. Then, at any rate. However I’m inclined to think some form of hold was gotten over Kivuitu.
    * Days to the election the president swore in a new set of beaming judges

That last point in particular is why I am deeply skeptical that election petitions will be of any value. Asking judges appointed not a fortnight ago to expel their benefactor is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. It was not lost on many that a beaming Chief Justice and the ever smiling Attorney General were delighted guests at the inauguration. The old adage of a rooster appealing to the justice of a hungry crocodile comes to mind.

And finally, this:

What we have lost, my friends, is our voice. The power of the ballot. The right to determine our leadership and our destiny. The very thing our forefathers risked their lives fighting for.

So if you are celebrating because Kibaki ‘won’ or you are bitter becauase Raila ‘lost’ my friends you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

You need to be better because your voice has been stolen from you.

Crog, I don't know what the Ugandan troops will bring to Kenya, either. Judging from my limited background knowledge, it will probably be very mixed-to-aggravating

[sparqui]

This is a good read. An excerpt:

...A priest in the Nairobi slums, Father Daniel Moschetti, told Reuters that the violence was hitting the poor rather than the wealthy politicians who had stoked up the conflict. “It is the politicians living in their secure compounds who are inciting ethnic hatred,” he said.

The whipping up of tribalism is being used by the leaders of both political camps. A government spokesman told the BBC that Odinga’s supporters are “engaging in ethnic cleansing” in an “organised, calculated manner.” Odinga told Associated Press that Kibaki’s government was “guilty, directly, of genocide.”

There is little doubt that Washington and London wanted Kibaki to stay in power. Kenya is a strategic centre for US security operations in Africa. It borders on Somalia and Ethiopia. It is also the business hub of the East Africa region.

Odinga, the opposition candidate, is a businessman and supporter of free market economics, but is something of an unknown quantity for the Western powers. His Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has called for devolution of power from the Kikuyu elite and has used populist rhetoric, while Odinga paints himself as a champion of the poor....

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/jan20 ... -j03.shtml

My first impressions were similar -- that the politicians were appealing to their respective tribal affiliations and that is too reminiscent of Rwanda. My SO worked in Kenya (railways) in the 1990s and said that the management teams included Luo and Kikuyu members. I guess things were relatively stable and not volatile along ethnic lines but it doesn't take much to stir up allegiances I would guess.

[GDKitty]

Thank you for that article, sparqui!

An update: Odinga is no longer calling for Kibaki to resign, and he has agreed to discuss forming a national unity government. (Link)

I haven't checked-back with all those wonderful Kenyan blogs that mattt provided the other day (at least not for at least 36 hours or so), but I will do so first thing in the a.m.

[Toedancer]

I'm sure we've all read the reports of the al-queda linked somolian terrorists in the westlake mall in Nairobi, Kenya, murdering innocents and I assume chewing khat like there's no tomorrow, how else could they stay awake for 4 days.    Lots of ink being spilled over who/what/ etc., but not much on the fact Kenya wants to pull out of the ICC, obviously because Dep. Minister Ruto and President Kenyatta have been charged w/ crimes against humanity. One witness has described being locked in a church with men/women/children/babies and being burnt alive, if one tried to leave they were shoved back inside. Curiously the ICC excused Ruto to go back to Kenya because of the hostage/killing spree, some people asked why and they were told this is akin to America's 9/11, can u imagine if Bush hadn't been home for that? Well except Bush wasn't in front of the ICC. They gave him a week - wonder if he'll return?



Ruto excused -
http://www.voanews.com/content/icc-excuses-ruto-after-kenya-mall-shooting/1755092.html


Kenya wants to pull out of the ICC - http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2013/0906/With-its-leaders-facing-trial-Kenya-quits-International-Criminal-Court


Witness testimony - http://www.newsdaily.com/article/9ecfba7c553dda40c8b0b7fc62fad0ca/kenya-vp-trial-witness-sobs-as-she-recalls-church-massacre

[Toedancer]

Kenya says it's over, but chaos continues and many of the militants are now on the loose in Nairobi.


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/world/africa/kenya-mall-shooting.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Toedancer]

Witnesses receive death threats. http://www.zegabi.com/articles/?p=4212


Oh and omg the hypocrisy - ICC offers to prosecute the attackers - http://www.zegabi.com/articles/?p=4334


Side by side w/ the deputy minister and the prezident of Kenya I assume.