Baraza

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Dec 31 2007 | By: admin

Dear everyone. You may have heard that Kenyans went to the polls in record numbers last Thursday 27th December to elect the president. It was the closest race in history and citizens went calmly with great discipline to vote, and with great patience - some had to wait for hours at polling stations. On Friday the results started coming in and it was clear that the favourite, the leader of the opposition, Mr. Raila Odinga was leading with a healthy margin. But temperatures began to rise when it became apparent that the counting process was deeply flawed in many places and the results were being held back, and … well… ‘cooked’ was the word that the electoral commissioner used to describe what was happening.

The final result was not announced until Saturday afternoon - when the public were already extremely agitated, and it was like pouring petrol on a flame - it ignited a furious citizenry. Many, including the leading member of the opposition refuse to accept that the president Mwai Kibaki actually won and claim that the results were rigged -in several (and I mean many) constituencies, the percentage of voters was well over 100%.
Despite this, the government held a hasty press conference for a few hand picked foreign press (government agency and foreign press - no local private stations) and then promptly banned all news coverage in the country. Desperate Kenyans were treated to an evening of  television coverage that comprised only ‘just for laughs’  a really bad canadian candid camera comedy show, instead of the usual news and programming. The president was hastily sworn in an hour later and the opposition were barred from making any press statements (even by phone!). This went  on throughout Sunday.

Today all live broadcasts have been banned - Kenyans are still in the dark and as a result have taken to the streets threatening a total breakdown of law and order (there are some scary videos on You tube). Most Kenyans are getting their news via the internet (blogs and news) and through cell phones. The international observers have expressed concern about what happened, the president is mum. Mr. Odinga tried to rally supporters in Nairobi today but was held back by police blocks, but he has asked Kenyans to attend a million person event in Uhuru Park (freedom gardens) in the city on the 3rd of January. The government has declared the rally illegal and the ‘president‘ has promised to deal with it ruthlessly.

I have been getting most of my news from a great blog Kenyan pundit written by an insightful Kenyan lawyer (female) who reminds us that she is biassed, totally biassed in her reporting, and her bias is against flawed election processes.

Due to the communication blackout rumours abound and are often the only source of information. It’s madness on the ground and over one hundred people have been killed - witnesses say by the police, who in turn say it’s rival political groups. Shops are being looted, buildings burned, and people are fighting. This is happening across the country. I’ve spoken to Richard Leakey, Dipesh, Will and Emmanuel and all are fine. But communications from Kenya are limited due to internet overloads.

It’s top of the news everywhere. For good news coverage go to France 24 and BBC. Dipesh sent this link to a You tube account in Kisumu, his home town.

As a Kenyan I feel  disgusted, ashamed and angry. I didn’t vote this year because I didn’t believe in the candidates, I (and  all Kenyans) did not expect, and are likely to reject, this abuse of process shown by the government. It’s a sad sad time for Kenya.

We’ll keep you updated and hope that the temperatures drop over coming days.