For example, read this piece of citizen journalism from Nairobi and please skip to the bottom of my entry for links to more information. For a comprehensive list of blogs covering events, go here. Visit Kenyan Pundit's blog for important information about the last few days and go here for Insight Kenya, a new picture blog. Firoze Manji sums up the current state of affairs well on Pambazuka News: "It is the Kenyan people who have lost the election" as does Mukoma wa Ngugi in an article here.
My entry that follows here is not seeking to describe or explain events; it's just the thoughts occupying my mind right now.
....
In the past two years, I have begun to know a little bit more about Kenya than I did before. I had visited the country when I was very little but did not have the chance to go back until 2006, which was when I started this whole blog. I returned for a short visit in early 2007 and hope to return in a few months.
I don't know what it was about my trips, but they were full of random meetings and chances to listen to many people. And my visits, however brief, left me with very dear friends. Friends of great grace and generosity, humor, and kindness. People that I think about and communicate with on a regular basis -- cell phones and e-mail mean regular conversations aren't totally thwarted by distance. Indeed, I was surprised by the depth of the friendships that were created in such a short time and how they continue to enrich my life.
This past week, reading the news, my friends and their families, friends, and neighbours have been on my mind all the time. I don't know if thinking about people and hoping for their country does any good. I pray that it does.
If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know who Madi is -- a friend I met when travelling with my friend Tiffany in Coast Province in summer 2006. He took us under his wing and showed us all around Mombasa before taking us to his Ngomeni, his village and adored island just north of Malindi. I visited him and his family back in January. I heard from him today in a text which began "Just pray for our beloved country" and went on to describe his views on what unbelievable steps politicians will take to stay in power.
Others have been in touch, but it is hard for people to find credit for their phones. People are also having trouble making it to internet cafes. In a few places, there is no electricity to charge phones either.
As I said above, my knowledge of Kenya is still very limited, gathered from short visits, meeting a few people, and a small amount of historical research. But I have seen enough to feel angry at the greed and pride of politicians who think they can continue to deceive their people. Enough to feel horribly sad that people die because, to put it simply, people with power lie and steal.
It happens all over the world (I am in the US as I write after all) and has happened for a long time. Once in a while though, individuals stand up to say enough is enough. People are capable of putting others before themselves, I believe this. Change can happen.
So to Kenyan politicians, come on, your country's people are watching you. The world is watching you. Prove that you're capable of thinking of someone other than yourselves. Prove that you really do care about the millions of people who have to live the outcomes of your actions.
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For a list of blogs covering events, go here.
See Pambazuka's articles here.
Joint editorial by major newspapers: Save Our Beloved Country
"Our beloved country, the Republic of Kenya, is a burnt-out, smouldering ruin. The economy is at a virtual standstill and the armies of destruction are on the march in the Rift Valley and other places.
In the midst of this, leaders — who are the direct cause of this catastrophe — are issuing half-hearted calls for peace, from the comfort of their hotels and walled homes in Nairobi, whence they are conveyed in bullet-proof limousines.
It is unbelievable foolishness for Kenyans to destroy their economy, their homes and their entire way of life in the name of politics and on behalf of people whose lives of comfort and luxury are going on normally."
"Political leaders on both sides must be told in no uncertain terms that they are currently in great danger of losing their credibility in the eyes of Kenyans and the international community because of systematic killing of the innocent sweeping Kenya, destruction of the economy and the spread of disaffection throughout the land."
Read the rest. To read an opinion critiquing this campaign in the newspapers, go here. Oloo does make a good point that security alone does not bring justice.
Visit this site: http://josephkaroki.wordpress.com/
And read this blog by 'Kenyan Pundit': http://www.kenyanpundit.com/An entry from Kenyan pundit:
Tears are rolling down my eyes as I’m writing this.
It is a sad day for Kenya when Ruto and Kosgey are the guys arguing for justice and fairness.
It is a sad day for Kenya when Karua and Kibwana are defending rigged results.
It is a sad day for Kenya when Kivuitu is cracking jokes at the state house swearing in ceremony while lives are being lost for people who could care less (10 people already dead in Kisii, 2 dead in Kakamega, at least one in Kisumu).
It is a sad day for Kenya when Kibaki who pledged to be a one-term president and is only president because Raila said Kibaki Tosha can now not be bigger than himself and his cronies.
It is a sad day for Kenya when a cabal that has been in power since independence still controls the countries destiny.
It is a sad day for Kenya when millions of first time young voters have had their voice ignored - how do you tell these people that their vote matters in 2012?
It is a sad day for Kenya that Kenyans will no longer trust the one avenue they have - the ballot box.
It is a sad day in Kenya that the democracy that has been painfully and slowly nurtured since 1992 has been damaged in one day.
It is a sad day.
and many articles from the Nation and the Standard, among other papers. For instance:
I acted under a pressure, says Kivuitu
Published on January 2, 2008, 12:00 am
By Isaac Ongiri
On Tuesday night, Mr Samuel Kivuitu made a damning admission that he announced results of the fiercely contested presidential election under pressure. ...
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