Kenya at the Crossroads

NAIROBI, Kenya — As they journey closer to the presidential election in mid-December, Kenyans had hoped to be traveling down the road less traveled, one freshly paved with good intentions. Instead, many find themselves on a familiar rocky road.

Political violence, though not as bad as people here remember, remains a problem. So does coercion based on tribal loyalties. Though sometimes difficult to prove, graft is felt in nearly every sector of society.

Many Kenyans, except crusading journalists such as those at Nation Media and The Standard, have learned to look the other way. Dissenters learn quickly that an official complaint could mean a visit from police who are hired guns.

It wasn't too long ago that The Standard had its newspaper office raided by masked thugs. Official attempts to muzzle the media through new laws have failed, but proponents haven't given up entirely.

The lead up to the election has been especially harsh for women, a political minority. Women are experiencing the most vicious violations, as they seek greater representation in the Kenyan Parliament.

In early September, Meru parliamentary candidate Flora Tera was attacked by thugs who shaved her head and made her eat her hair along with feces. They made it clear to her that this was politically motivated.

Such incidents come as women, for the first time in Kenya's history, stand to gain more parliamentary seats than ever before.

The right people condemned the attack on Tera mostly because they had no choice, given widespread TV coverage of her tearful account from the hospital. U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger was among her first visitors.

Each week, it seems, Ranneberger makes the same speech condemning political violence. The envoy's condemnations have been swift, certainly faster than President Mwai Kibaki's.

People here notice these things, even if they do not express it openly. They notice when a rival politician's offices are raided Watergate-style with no arrests.

They notice when a rival party that had planned a rally had it suddenly canceled by police who claim the event conflicted with the ruling government's plans.

The air in Kenya is getting thick and musty with impunity. The list of Untouchables is growing steadily but is small compared to the Touchables, whose entreaties for transparency and accountability are drowned out by rhetoric and spin.

Politicians here talk about the violence, but do nothing about it. Some have taken to blaming the usual suspects, the media, for sensationalism. Incidentally, much of the violence has been directed at presidential party opponents. Those not part of the president's broad coalition seem to be fair game.

Intimidation remains a weapon of mass electoral destruction. This will mean considerable problems at the polls.

Ironically, the same day Kibaki attended an ecumenical national prayer event in Nairobi to condemn political violence, young men in Kisii shot arrows at rival politicians who showed up unannounced at a Kibaki ally's fundraising rally. The rally was hosted by Simeon Nyachae, whose unapologetic sponsorship of the violent youths was rewarded a week later with an appointment to the president's re-election inner circle. People notice these things.

They notice, despite a visible police presence and published photographs of the bowmen caught in the act, that no arrests were made.

Few arrests of violent gangs are made. Yet students such as those at the University of Nairobi were arrested recently for protesting political violence. Police said their assembly was unlawful because they failed to get the proper papers.

Stable Kenya is not a nation without laws. Kibaki deserves plaudits for economic progress, good trade relationships, and gains in public education, telecommunications and tourism.

It is a nation of great promise on the verge of greatness. Yet as this election cycle proves, it is also a nation of great anxiety. Many cannot wait for this election to be over, but even more worry what will come next.

Rhonda Chriss Lokeman (lokeman@kcstar.com) is a columnist for The Kansas City Star. To find out more about Rhonda Chriss Lokeman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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