You probably remember that there was shocking violence in Kenya following the presidential election about two years ago. The conflict arose when the incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, was declared the winner in what appeared to be a rigged result, and supporters of the opposition candidate were very angry. The two candidates also come from two of the larger tribes in Kenya, the Kikuyu and the Luo (this is the tribe of Obama’s father). According to Lonely Planet’s Kenya travel guide the Kikuyu represent 22% of the total population, and the Luo represent 12%. Clashes happened between members of these two tribes, and over 1000 people were killed in a couple of days, and many more displaced. The violence came to an end when Kofi Annan and outside countries stepped in to broker a deal, allowing the opposition candidate, Raila Odinga, to become Prime Minister in a broad power-sharing agreement.
We have learned that the roots of tension between tribes run deep. Kenya’s first president after winning independence, Jomo Kenyatta, enacted policies favoring his own tribe, Kikuyus, especially in the civil service. I had been wondering what happened after independence to the land that was stolen from Kenyans by the English who settled here. There were funds made available from England and the US to re-settle people, but instead the land was given out as favors, meaning people from multiple tribes never got their land back.
Samuel, Peris and their family were among the displaced after the 2007 elections. At the time they were living in Kitale, having graduated from Manor House which is based there. They had established themselves with a biointensive farm project, and a large community. But since they are Kikuyu, the tribe of the candidate who claimed the presidency, their whole family was threatened with violence. Samuel told us of several harrowing days during which he and his family feared for their lives. To protect their elderly mother, who is blind from diabetes, Samuel and his brother decided to hide her in a water tank, where she was forced to stay for a whole week. They would bring her supplies and food when they could. They finally left their home with their two small children with nothing but their clothes on their backs. They lost everything they had, although they were later able to sell their house. That is why they ended up in Thika, but they spent many months without anything, and relying on their family and friends.
Joshua and his family fared a bit better, but someone torched one of their visitor huts, and destroyed one of their water tanks; fortunately no one was hurt. At Manor House they were not directly impacted, but they felt the effects long afterward due to reduced incomes and fewer students being able to attend, and just the general paralysis of fear that affected the whole country.
I asked Samuel how this traumatic experience affected their children, and he explained that these recent histories make it difficult for children to grow up without bad feelings for people from other tribes. We’ve noticed that people often express strong opinions about other tribes, and sometimes make disparaging and stereotyping remarks. Peris told me about how hard it had been for her to lose everything, and to worry about her parents and children’s safety.
The two sides of the government are currently sparring, which is worrisome, and Peris said everyone is concerned that violence will erupt again around the elections coming in three years. This is a regular topic in the news. Apparently this was not the first time there was violence following an election, and unfortunately it may not be the last. But most people have told us that the majority of Kenyans were dismayed by the violence, and they blame politicians for taking advantage of everyone and inciting the inter-tribal conflicts. The International Criminal Court in the Hague is investigating whether individuals should be brought to justice for their role in 2007-20008 violence…read more here.
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