Post-Election Upheaval in Kenya. January & February 2008.

A man sits with all his worldly possessions in the compound of the military base in Naivasha, Rift Valley shortly after the horrendous violence gripped the town. Most of the IDP's were Luos trying to organise transport back to their home regions in Nyanza Province in Western Kenya. Most had lived in Naivasha a long time but had sworn never to return. The price on the common 'Mwanainchi' (common man) of the troubles was terrible. Approxiametly 1,500 were killed and 250,000 were internally displaced. While the peace agreement signed on 28th February 2008 has held to date, Kenya continues to face an uncertain political future. What is certain though is that the price paid by the Kenyan people because of the upheaval will be felt for many years to come. With most regions of Kenya outside the cities now segregated along tribal lines, and with little chance of reversing this trend in the foreseeable future, it seems the scars left by the events of January 2008 will take a long time to heal. The world waits and hopes that Africa does not become the latest victim to be condemned by a very African sickness - that of inter-tribal conflict.