For decades, Kenya has been a haven of stability and peace in eastern Africa, a region where other nations have been ravaged by ethnic and tribal conflict. But last month, violence erupted among the country's ethnic groups over election results. At least 486 people died, and hundreds of thousands fled their homes as neighbor turned against neighbor.
On December 27, Mwai Kibaki, who had served as Kenya's president for five years, was declared to have been reelected. His rival, Raila Odinga, had led by about 1 million votes at one point. Odinga accused Kibaki of stealing the election and rejected the results. For the past two weeks, protests have turned into riots. Homes and businesses have been set on fire.
Much of the violence is directed at members of the Kikuyu tribe, the biggest of Kenya's 42 ethnic groups. The Kikuyus have dominated business and politics for almost 45 years. Kibaki is a Kikuyu. Particularly angered are members of the Luo tribe, who make up 10% of the nation's 36 million people. Odinga is a Luo.
Last week, thousands of Kikuyus boarded heavily guarded buses bound for Kenya's central highlands to escape the attacks. "I never thought Kenya could be like this," says Patrick Kariuki, a Kikuyu.
Can There Be Peace?So far, attempts by diplomats from many nations have failed to bring both sides together. Even U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, was asked to reach out to the leaders. Odinga canceled nationwide protest rallies. But he has refused invitations to meet with Kibaki.
One proposed solution is for Odinga and Kibaki to share power. But the prospects for that look dim. On Tuesday, Kibaki announced a new cabinet. Not one position went to a member of Odinga's party.