To Go or Not to Go

The violence that erupted in Kenya after the country's much flawed December 2007 election. The incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, was declared the victor in a much debated win over the top opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Election officials stated that voter fraud was evident on both sides. Immediately following the tally, rioters took to the streets in the cities of Kisumu, Kericho and Eldoret to protest the results; Nairobi's slums did not escape the violence.

More than 1,000 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced-many are fleeing to their ancestral homes. The main conflict revolves around the incumbent president's tribe, the Kikuyu, and the Luo tribe, that of the opposition leader. Numerous African heads-of-state and influential people have visited the country to try to help broker peace talks between the two sides, and as of February talks had begun. Though the political future of Kenya is uncertain, the magnitude and beauty of Kenya has not changed.

So, is it safe to travel to Kenya? A lot depends on your own you own comfort level. When you're traveling to Africa you must check in on what's going on politically and culturally. This is not the first time violence has erupted around an election; rioting occurred in Kenya after the 1992 elections as well. Sign up for news briefings from web sites like AllSafe Travels (www.allsafetravels.com) that send daily updates on your future travel destination(s).