Yesterday's news, today.

Kiserian, January 4, 2008

Yesterday's news, today.

The terrible mess that I expected would happen as ODM supporters tried to make their way to Uhuru Park yesterday for a rally did not occur. There were clashes with police, but mainly with tear gas and water cannons, rather than live ammunition, being used on the police side. Both the security personnel and the protesters showed great restraint, and from all reports I've seen injuries and deaths were kept to a minimum.

It was tense in the morning, as reports started to come in that youths were marching from Kibera to try to get to Uhuru Park. They met police and engaged in a stand off near City Mortuary, at the junction of Ngong Road and Mbagathi Way. Pictures on the TV showed a reasonable sized group of youths slowly moving towards a barricade and police line, chanting “amani” (peace). Then the police fired dozens of rounds into the air. The crowd retreated slightly before holding its ground. The chants had now change to “niue” (kill me).

A man standing behind Steve and I in Ngong, where we were watching live reports, says “watachoka” (they'll get tired), as we watch the footage from Kibera. Steve tells me the man is 'death himself' and has the blood of too many people on his hands. He's a former Mungiki leader who now lives in a more comfortable house in a Nairobi suburb. Rumour has it he was in Bulbul on the 2^nd, offering money and transport to young Kikuyu men to go to Kibera to fight. I didn't get a good look at him, so I couldn't confirm his identity, nor have I heard more about Mungiki in Kibera.

Also in the morning, reports begin to come in that another group is assembling on Thika Road, trying to enter the city. They carry branches and twigs, signs of peace. Police, at first, reason with them, discouraging them from entering town. Cars still pass on Thika Road, into the city. The crowd continues to grow, with chants of 'we want peace' 'amani' and 'haki yetu' (it's our right). Eventually police become more forceful, as the protesters block off one entire side of the dual carriageway. They are dispersed and chased into the bush on the side of the road.

Police close down all roads into the city. Workers who had tried to go to work are sent away by their employers and by the police, citing the planned ODM rally and expected violence. The Nairobi Stock Exchange opened for an hour or two, with very low trading volume, and was then closed. The Kenya shilling appears to have lost a lot of value. On Dec 24, the last day of trading before the election and all this chaos, it was going for around 62 shillings per US Dollar. Now it's closer to 68, which is, however, near average for most of the past year. Currency trading may be suspended to prevent major losses.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is in the country and meeting with ODM Pentagon members at Orange House, as of 10:00 am Thursday. The Pentagon reiterates that they will proceed to Uhuru Park once they finish their meeting with the man they hope can help to mediate the crisis as an impartial, international figure. President Kibaki, according to PNU sources, has no plan to meet with Tutu or any other international mediator, saying that this is a Kenyan issue and must be settled internally.

Later in the day, ODM leaders are seen at the front of a large column of marchers, trying to make their way to the venue for the planned meeting. Najib Balala, William Ruto, and Joe Nyaga are clearly visible. They chant “we want peace, we want peace.” Thirty seconds of footage is repeated on the Kenyan stations, cutting off just a second after gunshots are heard. Police firing into the air to disperse the marchers.

Later, Joe Nyaga is seen proclaiming that “this is a sad day for Kenya.” PNU, he says, has not won, but ODM is making a tactical retreat, in the interests of peace, and will go back to Uhuru Park next week. They will make a fresh application to the police to hold their rally and word quickly spreads that Tuesday, Jan 8, will be the chosen day. Later, this is revised to Saturday, January 5, and then again to today, Friday, Jan 4.

In addition to protesters shown demanding 'haki yetu' (our right) and 'amani' (peace), others are shown in different parts of the country shouting 'no peace, no peace' and others saying 'no Raila, no peace.' It's unclear to me from the images who they are supporting, where they are, or what they mean by that.

Phone calls in the morning from residents of various parts of the city report to radio station Kiss 100 that it's hard to get transport into town today, so even if they want to go to work, they can't. In Eastlands, someone calls from Komarock Estate, saying that they're effectively trapped at home. No matatus to get to town, and rumours of a vigilante group roaming the streets.

At Mlango Kubwa, there are rumours of heavily-armed Mungiki sect members wearing police uniformsand patrolling the streets. Leaflets have apparently been circulated threatening violence against 'a certain community.' This is one of the frustrating things about Kenyan media. They don't like to openly discuss ethnic conflict by using the names of the groups involved. Quite possibly, this is because they will be shut down by the government for inciting hatred if they were to mention tribes by name in that context.

Police Commissioner Hussein Ali goes to Eldoret to inspect the scene of violent clashes. I walk away frm the TV as he's climbing onto the top of a car to address a crowd. I'm sure he's got a nice message of peace for them, probably mentioning how the police have restored order in most of the country, etc.

Later in the day, Amos Wako, Attorney General, issues a statement entitled “National Crisis.” Predictably he calls for peace, but most interestingly he calls for an independent body to ugrently inspect the relevant forms used in tallying the results for the election. While a recount of ballots is out, and apparently the 72-hour period in which a recount could reverse the results leaving electoral court as the only legal option, Wako feels that a retallying could legally be done to help ascertain the truth and restore order. ODM supporters say that it's even too late for that, and that there is evidence that the relevant paperwork is already being forged and the originals destroyed, to maintain the status quo in the event of a recount.

Kibaki finally addresses the nation. Media stations become excited about him breaking his long silence (characteristic of Kibaki's governing style) in what they hope will be a strong and conciliatory speech to bring order and make the first steps in restoring peace. When he speaks, he persists with his current stand. He's very sorry (in the Kenyan sense of sympathy, not culpability) about the violence and loss of life, but blames it squarely on people who are refusing to follow the law. He doesn't mention anyone or any specific incident by name, but it is clear he's referring to ODM. He indicates a willingness to talk to other parties in the dispute 'once political temperatures have cooled down enough for productive conversation,' but not before. This speech, in my opinion, will do very little to bring the sides together in any sort of negotiation for a solution.

Foreign envoys continue to call for peace, calm, and order. The EU openly asks for a government of national unity, bringing together both sides to rule the country until a more permanent solution can be found. The US, denying that Condoleeza Rice has agreed with Javier Solana on the issue, issues a statement calling for Kenyans to pursue discussions on a way forward. The British High Commissioner warns his citizens to stay indoors, and that all but essential travel to Kenya should be postponed. He reminds them to stay away from any political meeting or mass gathering, because these can quickly turn violent. The head of the African Union, Ghanaian President John Kufour, another potential mediator, waits in Ghana for an official invitation from the Kenyan government to come help with the situation. Until he receives an invitation, he's not allowed to come for a state visit or such political work. The invitation does not appear forthcoming, since the PNU group has consistently denied a need for international help. So far, the only leader I've heard openly supporting Kibaki is Yoweri Museveni, of Uganda, who congratulated him on victory yesterday.