The governments must have social programs to help the poor. That is what government is elected to do: help its people have freedom in a constructive form,prosperity and safety. What is it these elected officials don't get? If the country prospers,the people prosper,and in turn they prosper.
The love of money is the root of all evil.So what else is old news?
 

I am very pleased to see this type of coverage of Africa being undertaken by the press in the United States. Africa is crucial to the world being able to counteract the threat of terrorism and terrorist who would no doubt use Africa as a primary training base. I agree with several of the other bloggers who attributed this situation in Kenya and in a great majority of Africa to the lingering effects of colonialism. If Africa is allowed to be further exploited bu its own people and by those in power in America and other industrialized countries- violence in all of Africa's countries will only escalate.

i never understand why people burn and loot the very stores they shopped in the day before. whether it happens in US in california during the riots or the streets of Kenya. unreasonable people do unreasonable things. things reasonable people cant understand. unfortunately it seems the middle east and africa have plenty of unreasonable people to go around. when a country destroys itself why does the whole world look to the US to help? heres an idea from the US - hey Kenya, want peace? stop burning and killing your neighbors. i am sure you killing your neighbor will certainly get the politicians to think twice and have a re-count. when bush/gore had a problem, did we burn and loot our local 7-11s? i certainly didnt rise up and rape my neighbor. reasonable people protested in a civil way and respected the law. BTW the whole world is shaking their heads and laughing at your stupidity. everyone wants to come to your country and see the beautiful sites. but if you keep acting like kids we will spend our money in another country and you all can eat dirt. and everyone else stop crying for these people. if your neighbor intentionally pours gas on his house and burns all his possessions, would you feel sorry? no, you'd laugh and call him a fool. case dismissed.

you ask why we are not helping Africa..its really quite simple..there is no oil or monetary gain in Africa..those of you that think the governments of this world care about people, are fooling only yourselves.

I'm sick over this. Where is the humanity?  What has happened to the all of us all over the world?  We value material possessions and power over people.  One thing I know for certain is this: Karma is real, you will fully reep everything you sow.  God bless us all.

I agree with jeff in seattle, didn't know the numbers but believe that worry about where your next meal may come from can cause all kinds of mayhem.  The people that think someone else should go help should go themselves.  Any aid our government gives goes to the starch shirts an any country we claim to help so unfortunately for the poor in the country that doesn't help, as sad as it may be.  The real problem all the good people don't see is how close we are to becoming that.  All the money we are spreading around is money we don't have, borrowed from elsewhere, simply not air.  This is catching up to us and good help us, but we may be as bad off as Kenya. It's scary to look at the truth of things, but look around you at the economy, do you really think the trillions we are sending out their can be paid for by our taxes, there isn't that much money coming in.

It's there country to run the way they want it.It seems so many from Kenya who are educated are smart enough to get out and save themselves.That's why they are here. The United States should stay out. Kenya does not want white rule.

This will stop when the western countries stop trying to impose democracy on a people who have no traditions except might makes right,

I watch the today show nearly every morning, and they have some great programs. But what frustrates me is that this kind of stuff needs to be headlined! no wonder people aren't doing anything, because they either don't know or they ignore it. The United States is at war, and half of us are still ignoring that, thinking that the problem will fade, or disapear. Africa has numerous wars, so many deaths. How can we, you, ignore that? We live perfectly, in nice subdivisions, and they live on dirt. We are selfish. while some people die every so often over in Iraq, thousands are slaughtered, raped, and executed because they have different names and are from different backgrounds. Now, I know there is a great cause over in Iraq, but when is it going to end? I think it's great that we have reporters in Africa, but they dont get rewarded enough. They dodge death and possible severe injuries so we can learn about whats going on over there, so maybe someone might help. It takes more than one rich person to help. And you wonder why everything is so bad in Africa? if We took the time that we've thought about the problems and applied it to sovling the issue, Africa would be cured and heck, Iraq probably would be also. So, if anyone reads this that has the complete power to make a change or a difference, maybe after we are heros over in Iraq, we could be saviors in Africa. I know there is people who think that we need to stop interfearing with other countries and start focusing on our own, but this would show our countrie's morals and compassion. Like i said earlier, many of us live in great houses, we make great money, and some of us freak out over not being able to buy milk. But, in Africa, people just wish that they wont die that day. We dont just have to be the best, or the strongest, but we can be the best all around. Please help them, they are human beings like ourselves, dont be blind or selfish.

Hmmm......killing, burning, looting....sounds like Detroit in the 1960's, Los Angeles in the 1990's, and New Orleans in 2005. Martin Luther King Jr, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Tom Bradley, and Ray Nagin were the ones with the suits, big black cars; meeting in hotels, high fiving, laughing and smiling. And they still are.

Wonderful piece. The tragedy of African politics is that the elite benefit while the masses follow blindly based on tribal/community affiliations. Kenyans exercised their rights but the elite thwarted this by "stealing" the elections. Unfortunately most of the west has never understood the Africa elite well. The USA and a few allies ruled out re-run elections, i guess deliberately and pre-emptively for their own reasons. this way they paved way for a dictatorship without caring about the Kenyan people's interest. These "allies" forgot that Western pressure is so essential for growing democracies to take root. By thinking narrowly and short-term they ruined bigger gains to all (incl the West) in the long haul. When will everyone learn?

The corruption will never end  in every government in this world because corruption is the natural blood stream  in the body of human beings. I think corruption now become another disease like aid in the authorities. The medicines for corruption is the leaders to execute the laws. And leaders do not execute the laws and that why there is no changes in every government.And I believe some  leaders are the  frist victims when they start applying the laws according to people expectations. Corruption will never end unless leaders must execute the laws despite who make wrong.

I am an opinionated Kenyan. Many readers have asked why corruption is so rampant in Africa. One, it is called corruption if its African, and lobbying if it is in Washington. Whatever you call it. It is corruption all the same. Two, corruption in Africa is largely perpetuated by Western multinationals competing for business in Africa. Case in Point, why wont Vodafone tell us who owns Mobitelea( a company that owns 5% of Safaricom Kenya shares)?
Three, the colonial masters segregated Kenyans in to tribal zones to thwart organized resistance. Colonial history texts refer to Kenyans as Luos, Kikuyus, Nandis, Kambas, Maasai etc. It will take many years of work to reconcile tribal interests with nationhood.
Four, Kenya as a state is only 43 years old. The French and Stalinist revolutions that slaughtered more occurred in arguably mature states. Kenya is far from mature.
Last but not least, the divide is between the rich ruling class and the ruled. The former inherited the colonialists tools and continue to use the same to thwart the latters claim to power up to this day.
But a new dawn for Africa is breaking because the young will refuse to join the nay sayers, the prophets of doom, the non believers. You may have missed the message of the last elections, the overwhelming theme was a generational change was imminent and that non performance would not be tolerated. We will heal our country and rise again as brothers and sisters. Those who resist this new found wisdom will be voted out of office. We will create the institutions that we need to succeed. The presidential system that has weakened the other arms of government will be removed as Kenya goes back to a parliamentary system. This move will strengthen political parties and promote ideas based leadership. Political parties will answer collectively for their failures. In short, Kenya will rise from the ashes and prosper.

Life in the streets of Los Angeles has shown me how easily one man can take the life of another.  If you gave food and sustenance to everyone of the people who needed it in Kenya (or anwhere else for that matter), they probably wouldn't kill eachother over the politics that they blame for the circumstances that they find themselves in.  Inside, the ones killing now, would still be capable of killing though.  If you don't start off with the idea that killing is wrong, you'll never be able to stop yourself from doing it when your situation compels you to lash out, whether it be due to anger, frustration or need.  Goodness and morality starts at an early age and needs to be reinforced throughout life.  Not all poor people kill.

I beleive it is the corrupt government in all the developed countries that creates these wars and for now it will not change for good but it will get worse because our corrupt government is only getting better at what we do which is murder and that is the current goverment objective until a drastic change it government of powerful nations like u.s.a , china etc. all people are of earth are now under threat of death from these nations including people who live in them and the way its set up theres nothing normal people can do about it beacuse all candidates for election are corrupt from the get go.

This is a perfect example of the cliche "If you always do what always you've done, you'll always get what you've always gotten."  The U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia have been forgiving billions of dollars of loans, and pouring billions more in charity for nothing.  Absolutely no result.  Something needs to change in order to get a different result.  Let these corrupt governments go bankrupt and repossess their countries for the people.

"To whom much is given, much is expected...".  Hey Laura - do you have any knowledge of US history??? Nothing was give to us - maybe given to you.  Many many many American men (and a few women) have fought, bled and died for what we in the US take for granted.  I served 6 years in the US Army.  I donate to charity.  What do you do?  And besides, it is not the US's responsibility to take care of everything around the world.  Look at the flak we take in Iraw

Don't we have enough problems in our own country to tend to first. We are just as divided as they are, political wise. I personally am tired of everyone expecting the US to fix the World's problems and then in the next breath they bad mouth us. Where is European countries and other Democratic nations, why is it always us???

the US better go do something. always someone saying we better go do something, thats horrible, terrible in some backwater coutry. those who say we should go do something should remember those people who you so quickily send off to these countries are someones son or daughter. so high and mighty that we'd better go do something, your right, you'd better - so march your kid down to the recruitment office and sign them up or sign up yourself. otherwise sit down and shut up. we have homeless here, we have poverty here, ignorance and racism here. you dont have to look 1/2 the world away to see it. you dont see Kenyans or Rwandans saying aint that sad we'd better go do something.
sad yes. but Mutisya is right. they need to fix their own mess and hold their heads high. then you will here the thuderous applause of the world standing with them.

I don't see why people are surprised.  If you look at every country, you will find the same thing.  The people (rich) people of Africa would say:  why can't we have the same thing and do the same thing that these other countries are doing.  People the world will not change unless you see countries like the US, England, China, Russia and others change and care about the less fortunate people.  No one who are making these comments really cares what goes on in other countries.  You just like to voice your opinions, especially people in the US.  Take care of you own, before you try to start taking care of someone else.

Africans have only themselves to blame. The colonial influences are long gone, but there has been no significant improvement. Complaints of White rule in South Africa resulted in the takeover by native Black Africans, and how well has that worked out?
In Africa there is a huge continent with a substantial population, that, for the most part, contributes almost nothing to the rest of the world in terms of technology, medicine, education, or consumer products; no automobiles, heavy equipment, computers, no breakthroughs in advancing the human condition.  

Carolyn- I fail to understand your analogy of "dying in Kenya for nothing" as to "dying in Iraq for nothing." Is this in relationship to Saddam's reign or are you stating that our soldiers only have tea/milk for dinner. Please explain.

I hope we can learn how to stop it.  Everyday our country is getting closer to the same situation on a different scale.  Corruption and greed end up spawning an awful lot of desparity , violence, and pain.  Revolution may be the only necessary way to stop it temporarily.  We should not be a country by the corporations for the corporations.  If your household earns 120k or more, you will only get more.  If your houshold earns 40k to 100k, you will only get less, so that those earning many times more than you already, can compete with each other for the most.  Greed began with Adam and Eve, none of us have been able to stop it yet.  Poloticians and corporations will not stop it, they benefit from it.  God will fix it.

Tribes are a pointless relic of the past.  You kill each other for what?

First, I must commend Mr. Fletcher on a well written story about man's inhumanity to man in Nairobi,Kenya. I feel those people pain, because I have ample food to eat. I feel their pain because I'm blessed to have a roof over my head, heat in winter and air conditioning in the summer. I feel their pain because I have the basic things I need to exist.  However, Mr. Fletcher and others do not need to travel to Afica to encounter such artrocities, it's happening right here in the U.S.A. That should not be an issue since America is perceived as one of the richest countries in the world.  Yet, most people turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the hunger, homeless and unemployment that exist right in their own backyard. Instead, we tend to concentrate on what's happening in other countries.  We can talk or comment on other countries' shortcomming when all our homeless have homee, all our hungry are fed and all our working population obtain jobs.  Meanwhile, take care of home,first.

Human greed and distrust of his fellow man is not separated by borders and countries.  His eternal journey to find and possess his only other human counterpart leads him to forsake all the good that may be in his heart.  Human tragedy is rampant and doing well in this world and I do believe we as a species are flawed and doomed.  Until we face the reality that we are here because of fateful changes in astrology, biology and random physiology we will surely be relegated to be another extinct species that inhabited this wonder we know as PLANET EARTH.

I am a Kenyan student in the UK and I am amazed at how quick non-Africans have labelled Kenyans savages.

Nevertheless, I would like to shed some light on the tribal aspect of the violence in Kenya today. During the colonial times (1800's-1963) Kenya was divided into 8 provinces for administrative purposes. Unfortunately this division of land was not done with a proper insight into the Kenyan population as it was in the time.

The British settlers occupied large sections of the agriculturally viable parts the central province. In their occupation, they forced the indigenous people who happen to be Kikuyu in forced labour camps.

To reinforce their occupation of Kenya,they used the divide and rule style of governance where they would fuel tribal hostilties between communities.This ensured that Kenyans would not get together and kick them out of the country.

This worked but with the spread of formal education the educated Kenyans started realizing that they were being taken advantage of and that led to the push for independence.

However even with independence from the British, the seed of tribal hatred had been sown and the ruling class as stated in the above article are well aware of it.

Most of the people who had been forced into labour camps for the purpose of white settler occupation remained landless and slowly settled in all the other provinces where they went to look for work.

As they had nothing to their names they worked hard and were able to buy land in the other provinces and made them their homes.

They are now the target of ethnic violence and  have been used in every election as pawns to enable greedy retain and or access power.

After independence the British settlers were replaced by the educated Kenyans who took over large chunks of land. The unfair acquisition of land was propagated by the foreign doctrine of 'sancticty of title to property' which is defended by Kenyan law which is essentially English law adopted by colonial Kenya.

This was further propagated under the guise of Africanisation in the early post indepence period   and which led to a new breed of capitalist-neo colonialists. Unfortunately they more they gained the more they wanted.This has led to the present massive corruption as the people in power are too impatient to gain wealth by honest means.

Whenever there is a politician who thinks it is time he takes over the reigns of the country all he needs to do is set alight the fire of tribal hatred and the poor of his community will fight the battle for him.

A glance into the 24 years when Daniel arap Moi was president of Kenya will show that whenever the opposition (mainly comprised of people from other tribes)called for democracy in form of multi-party politics for example in 1992 and 1997  all he did was to use his tribesmen to smoke out people from other communities from the Rift valley which happens to be the largest province geographically to quieten the opposition.

Due to bad governance resources have not been adequately distributed and most Kenyans will vote for change with a sick mentality that they are voting for their tribesman will give them their turn to 'eat'.

This is due to the fact that if they vote for a person from their tribe they are certain that they will get jobs,infrastructure and all the pecks of having the national cake at their door-step. Unfortunately due to low literacy levels very few Kenyans will stop and think that the 'national cake' is actually inherited debt from the developed world.

Unfortunately experience will show that even when Kenyans vote on tribal lines, the elected leaders only share their ill-gotten wealth with their cronies and the poor remain poor.

As stated above, the ruling class in Kenya remains the same as the older politicians ensure that their sons get into government and retain their oppressive hold onto the resources belonging to Kenya for their own benefit.

Even the 'new' entrants into the political sphere have very close links with previous regimes and/or older politicians.

In my opinion,I belive the West should withdraw monetary assistance from the Kenyan government other than the very essentials which should only be donated as actual food, medicine, humanitarian assistance in the form of skills/expertise.

This will make power less desirable as there is nothing to look forward to 'eating' and may bring a solution to the vice of corruption.

Let Kenyans find ways of solving their own problems through other measures like strict tax administration systems.This is what the Kibaki administration had introduced between 2002 -2007 and in 2007 and for the 1st time in years Kenya had been able to prepare its national budget without foreign aid.

Unfortunately Kibaki has done very little to deal with corruption and has even allowed individuals who are known to be corrupt to remain in his government. This has tarnished his image and has given the opposition grounds to ensure that he is ousted from government.

I do not believe that the opposition represents real change as it is comprised of members of Moi's government from the previous regime. Several members of the present opposition are also known to be involved in corruption and fanning ethnic clashes.

The only way forward is to discourage the culture of hand-outs from the West!

This will force us Kenyans to wake up  and face the reality of what we are doing to ourselves and enable us attain real independence from vices like corruption, tribalism and dependence on ethnic community leaders to tell us what to do.

The price we are paying in blood to help the rich get richer is too expensive!

It gets a bit tiresome to have these problems constantly characterized as "post-colonial". Tribal animosities existed long before any Europeans showed up, and actually contributed to the ease with which the Europeans gained control. They easily recruited one tribe against another, just as the warlords do today. It's human nature, existing exactly the same way in the Americas, where tribal hatreds allowed the Conquistador to marshall armies. There is always somebody who will sell out.

Why doesn't the United States rush troups there to help?  To tell the Government how they need to run things?  To squelch reblers?
One word.  OIL
There is no oil for us there.

I didn't understand before that it was rich people's fault that the poor kill each other after an election. How could one incite violence this way? Why are Africans and Arabs always looking for an excuse to kill? Maybe it's nobody's "fault". Maybe it's their culture that's the problem. Maybe they're poor because of this tendency to react violently when things happen that they find unacceptable rather than the other way around.

Thanks for such a desciptive picture.  I am struggling to not be judgmental.  I don't wear gold cufflinks, but I'll spend $5 on a coffee.

Democracy still worth fighting for.
The best democracies in the western world (if you see wealth and social security as the results of good democracies) have all seen some kind of revolutions.
So, I totally agree that there are a lot of selfish politicians, who are only out there for their personal gains (see Kalonzo). But I completely disagree that the poor are fighting for nothing. And I also do not agree that all politicians in Kenya are the same. Only because Kibaki and his clique has betraid Kenyans so badly, you cannot put them all in one basket.

Actually, that is what Kibaki wants people to believe: all politicians are the same, circumstances forced him to act like he did, corruption cannot be fought, and people are now only fighting because of different ethnicities. WHAT A LIE!

Quote:
and we are complaining about things here in the
US?...if any of us had to face conditions like these
we would come to understand how free and safe our
country really is, in spite of it all!
Bill Lay, Aberdeen WA: end quote:

Bill Lay, We will not lay back and let our country, our freedoms, and our life styles go into the toilet. We will not grow complacent and passive so long as we can get our latee's at starbucks. We are American Citizens, and to allow any freedom, any lose, any reverse progress would be a slap in the face to everyone whos ever put work into our country or died for it.
So I'll tell you what you can do with your "In Spite Of It All."
 Just take that and! Put it into better terms.  Yes we do complain about allot, omg my coffee's to cold, they got my order wrong hazel pecan nut with mashrmellows? WTF?.
Many without understanding just how tough it can be out there. America is a great country, a great place. Lets keep it that way. A complaint is a start, but actions better. Speak to your local, state, and goverment officals. Get out and Vote! Let your voice be heard and tell people your ideas. Rally your friends, clubs, and organizations into voting power houses to improve every level of life for yourself and your children. And Absolutely, Never. Give up anything we've won for ourselves as a country, as a people.

My heart aches for the innocent people of Kenya.  We are extremely fortunate to live in the United States. Regardless of how bad we think we have it theres always someone who has it worse. The word I think we all need to remember here is COMPASSION. Regardless of what our political or religous belief is on the matter these are human beings that we are discussing and not all of them are on the streets commiting the horrific crimes that we are hearing about. It is easy to sit back and pass judgement but also pass on some compassion.

My heart aches for the innocent people of Kenya.  We are extremely fortunate to live in the United States. Regardless of how bad we think we have it theres always someone who has it worse. The word I think we all need to remember here is COMPASSION. Regardless of what our political or religous belief is on the matter these are human beings that we are discussing and not all of them are on the streets commiting the horrific crimes that we are hearing about. It is easy to sit back and pass judgement but also pass on some compassion.

I've heard quite a few responses now mentioning Rwanda. Kenya is a far cry from Rwanda even now.  Wake up people.  Being born in Kenya and having lived most of my life there I can tell you that a large part of what is happening now has little to do with politics and much more to do with opportunistic looters.  There has been ethnic violence in Kenya before and unfortunmately there will likely be more in the future. This has little to do however with colonialism and far more to do with the ubiquitous chai (spell it right!) system.  With the rise of a middle class in Kenya which are much more numerous than in the past as well as improvements in educational reforms this situation is far from hopeless.  Shame on you people for making comparisons to the Rwandan genocide.  Kenya is not Rwanda and this is not the same situation as you might realize if you lived in Kenya during that time and remember that we couldn't even eat fish from Lake Victoria due to the pollution from corpses upriver in Rwanda.  I have a deep and abiding faith in the Kenyan people if not in their politicians and am certain that this situation will improve and if reports from friends in-country are corect already is improving.  And to those deriding the Kikuyu mainstream politicians take a leaf from Mtwoo who so correctly pointed out that irregularities in voting procedures occured in traditionally Luo provinces as well.

just another example why we must be content and thankful for what we do have.. it's no time to worry about the things we don't have.. and who's to say that we're (US) are totally removed from these evils??.. just imagine if we all followed the rules set forth by God??.. Africa is an example of what could be happening to us right here in the US.. this goes beyond politics

As a Kenyan, I am extremely saddened by the events that have been taking place in the past two weeks. I hope that some sort of political compromise can be worked out to avoid further bloodshed and animosity. May God bless our lovely country and her people. We need to realize that we are all Kenyans first and pay attention to the words of our anthem:
‘Natukae na undugu
Amani na uhuru
Raha tupate na ustawi.’
Why are we killing each other for the sakes of millionaires? What have they done for you and what do you realistically stand to gain by either of them being in power? Work hard and build yourself, very few people get government handouts, and it’s certainly not the poor youths who are being manipulated to cause havoc.


On to this article, I am both amused and insulted by some of the comments made here.

1. That the US should come and help us.
The current situation is a Kenyan problem, less tribal than economic and will best be solved by us not outsiders. International pressure and mediation may be necessary to make two bull-headed politicians meet, but the solutions will have to be homegrown. After all, the problem is. So thank you, but Kenyan problems, Kenyan solutions. It’s patronizing to say otherwise.

2. A post colonialism African problem
Were it not for colonialism, we wouldn’t have to be dealing with these issues because we would not be dealing with artificial borders cobbled together by Europeans in Europe during the infamous ‘Scramble for Africa’ with no regard to historical rivalries or alliances. Nonetheless, colonialism per se is over, we need to deal with our borders as they are and get along with the people contained within them.
Or is the implication that we were better of under colonialism? Oh those good old days of restricted movement (pass laws), detention (concentration) camps, extrajudicial killings, reservations etc.

3. Corruption and Africa.
It is a fact, many African governments are blatantly corrupt- that’s the difference between them and the West- the blatancy. Don’t lie to yourselves that Western governments are not corrupt.

4. The Kenya-Rwanda analogy.
There is little historical or current basis for the analogy. One massacre does not Rwanda make. Unlike in Rwanda, the people of Kenya have lived together for years with no real animosity. The violence was part of a political strategy to gain power by Raila. Short sighted and ultimately, I think it will prove futile.
These two tribes are NOT determined to wipe each other out. Historically, we have not had issues with each other. All this Luo-Kikuyu pseudo-rivalry nonsense was started in the 50’s & 60’s with the political rivalry between Jaramogi Odinga (Raila’s father) and Tom Mboya (he was a Luo and a great leader – Jaramogi thought him an upstart), then Jaramogi & Kenyatta v. Mboya, then Kenyatta v. Jaramogi, meanwhile Mboya got assassinated… etc. Loads of BS based on the political rivalry of two people: Jaramogi & Kenyatta.

Africa has many countries with many dynamics at play in each, why is it that one conflict is assumed to be exactly the same as the next?

Yes, the Kenyan situation, and the Africa, by and large, is also very sad from any angle. Corruption is rampant and innocents die everyday, but it is an AFRICAN problem and NOT an American one. To American do-gooders reading this, I say: mind your own d--- business and quit wanting to interfere in everybody's affairs. It is not our fault if African kids are starving and they have lousy economies. Africans need to learn, on their own, that democracy while not perfect, is the only way to achieve long-term peace and prosperity. Tribal differences must be overcome by African initiatives. If it takes another 100 years, too bad, but so be it. America cannot be the policeman of the world and America is far from perfect also; we have plenty of problems to fix right here at home.

The Kenyan people we visit on a regular basis over the past 3 years, are loving, kind, gentle people, who love family and neighbors.  There are always some who take advantage of circumstance, and loot and rape.  My prayer is for protection of those who have the heart of Jesus and for them to step up to minister to others.  I personally (although there is a valid need)NEVER give to large charities that help (ex: Darfur).  My dollars do to those I know will reach the people, not the ones that allow the government to dispurse.  

What can we do to help?  why cant all countries get together to help these poor people, they are suffering and no one cares.

Perhaps we as Africans need to redefine our concept of leadership and responsibility. Our failure to learn from our past approach to violence and the destructions of our self is clear indication that civilization is against us and the greed of power has dominated our very existence. My dear brothers and sisters, the solution to the political problems is not to destroy ourselves. Please hold the leaders responsible for their actions.  

The Kenya always had this tribal issue. Why is the world acting all surprised. Shortly after independence in 1963, President Jomo Kenyatta began instituting his policy of Kikuyu hegemony in all spheres of public life: economics, finance, land allocation,local government, etc. Naturally, this has led to festering resentment which exploded when Mwai Kibaki rigged himself back into office through a clearly flawed vote counting.

Additionally, previous presidents, Jomo Kenyatta and  Daniel Moi are to blamed for fostering one of the most socio-economically and stratified societies in the world. Under current president Kibaki's blatant Kiuyu-centric policies resulted in this stratification growing wider contributing immensely to the festering hatred the world is now belatedly coming to acknowledge.

Kenya has always been a fairy tale.

"That is the history of Africa in the post colonial years."

"In the pre-colonial years as well."

Not really, prior to colonialization they were basically an agrarian siociety and they massacred each other for loot and land.  A little different I guess.  Anyone who thinks things were better before colonialization is woefully uninformed of the history of Africa.

America gives hundreds of millions of dollars of US Aid to the governments of countries overseas, the leaders of which, pocket much of the money.  US Aid should be run through international aid organizations (and not the foreign government) who direcly help the people in need.  The Red Cross and Operation Blessing (run by The 700 Club) are examples of these types of organizations.

Many of the leaders of these african governments are just like Yassir Arafat, who claimed concern for the palestinian people, but pocketed Billions (yes Billions!)of foreign aid.  Foreign aid needs to be depoliticized.  Tribalism is alive in the 21st century. Tribalism is inappropriately reinforced when money is given to these government(aka Tribal leaders).  

This is certainly sad to read about, and I'm thankful that we don't have problems on that scale here.  Yet when I realize that those who promote class warfare are in effect actively TRYING to create problems here on the scale of what Kenya has, I am outraged.  Clearly Kenya, as well as most of Africa, has a lot of problems.  Economic development would lift the people out of poverty, yet environmentalists are adamantly opposed to that, based on the man-made global warming fraud.  And even if an economy did get built, what morals stop leaders from trying to take from those who earn to redistribute to those who don't earn, especially themselves?  And beyond that, there are habits formed over a few thousand years in which nobody had to prepare all that far into the future, and habits of using strength to take from those weaker because the stronger could get away with it.  All that has to change.  The question is how will it be done?

God Bless America, and all of the freedoms that we enjoy which were paid for by the blood of patriots.  The time is long over when Africa can blame 'colonialism' and the West in general for its problems.  Those of you who are so concerned about people in need, open your checkbook and send money to a reputable aid organization.  I'm so sick of this nonsense about 40 million without healthcare.  Many choose to be without healthcare because they won't spend the money. Grow up. I am thankful that we have a  President willing to take the fight to the enemy to keep us safe at home.  Let's keep America a dhimmi-free zone, and let's expect Africa to rise to the occasion and solve its own problems.

STOP KILLING EACH OTHER! The idiot who said it will soon happen here is a pathetic individual.  Grow up and take responsibility for your own life.

It is like the old "Apartheid" regime of South Africa, but now between rich and poor Black Africans.

this is probably the best blog by Fletcher who not too long ago was complaining about the bad roads in Kenya's national parks!!! (he obviously has not been in downtown Mississippi lately) - in any case - as another reader stated - until the old guard leadership is completely eliminated the problems of Africa will continue.  

AS AN IMMIGRANT TO THIS WANDERFUL NATION I CAN SAY I RECOGNIZE THE HAND OF GOD KEEPING US TOGETHER IN PEACE, IN SPIT OF THE HATE FILLED DEMOCRATS.  SOME OF THEM WOULD LIKE TO KILL OUR OWN PRESIDENT IF THEY COULD.  THE SAME HATRED FILLS THE HEART OF THE PAGAN AND MUSLIM PEOPLE IN AFRICA, SPEAKING IN GENERAL.  IN THE FINAL ANALISYS, IT IS A PERSON THAT LIFTS UP A HAND TO SLAY HIS NEIGHBOR....REMEMBER, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOUR SELF.  THAT DIDN'T COME FROM THE KORAN OR FROM A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY, BUT FROM THE LIPS OY JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS ALSO MURDERED, HIM BEING WITHOUT SIN OR FAULT.  

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