Kenya Riots: updates from the ground?

Old Feb 5th, 2008, 03:18 PM
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Nyamera - that's just it, I don't know what you/I/world can do to stop the murdering. Where's the UN? Where they always are I guess, New York City. But does that mean I should not do what I can? No matter how insignificant? For sure I will protect myself and family first and always.

What would motivate Kibaki and Raila to stop the killing? Probably by only putting a hanging rope around their personal necks and telling them they have one hour to solve the problem.

regards - tom
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Old Feb 6th, 2008, 04:28 AM
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tom -

Hanging would be too quick for them.

Better, have them each go out to the fields to select their own thick switch, and be whipped by their constituents. Not machettes, but they'll definitely get drift of the sufferring of those who were hacked to death!
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Old Feb 6th, 2008, 07:01 AM
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Where's the UN? Where they always are I guess, New York City.

I just finished Shake Hands With the Devil so I am not going to depend on the competency of the UN
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Old Feb 6th, 2008, 11:49 AM
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Ban Ki-moon was in Nairobi a couple of days ago.
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Old Feb 6th, 2008, 11:55 AM
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From yesterday's KTB Update:

Following Kofin Annan’s arrival in Kenya, he succeeded in quickly bringing the two opposing sides together in talks aimed at solving the current political crisis. The government and opposition sides have each chosen a 3-person team to negotiate a political settlement, with Mr Annan as mediator backed by a team of “Eminent Africans” including Graca Machel and the former President of Tanzania. After their first full morning meeting last week, both sides issued a joint statement which expressed optimism that a peaceful solution to the political crisis would be arrived at sooner rather than later. An agenda has been agreed upon with one of the first objectives being to take immediate steps to stop the violence and thereby resolve the immediate crisis within a 15 day time-scale.

Mr Annan’s team proposed Cyril Ramaphosa as mediator to lead talks in the longer term to address Kenya's ethnic and land issues. However the government side expressed reservations about Mr Ramaphosa, who it was suggested might have business links to ODM leader Raila Odinga, whereupon he withdrew and left the country yesterday. This means an alternative person will have to be appointed. In the short term the key priority is to achieve an immediate end to violence and the talks continue today with Mr Annan as mediator.

As part of the strategy to stop violence, MPs are returning to their constituencies to urge their supporters to shun violence and keep the peace. It seems that this approach is already having an effect as calm has returned to many of the areas previously experiencing unrest. The coast MPs announced in Mombasa that they intend that the coast region should set an example to the rest of the country as to how different ethnic groups can once again live together in harmony as Kenyans.



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Old Feb 6th, 2008, 05:27 PM
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Kofi Annan Leaves Peace Talks in Limbo After His Hotel Room Is Bugged

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,329071,00.html
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Old Feb 8th, 2008, 03:04 PM
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Hi All-
I just got back today from Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania and from my perspective, all is well. I had no worries in any of the countries. And spent 3 non-consecutive nights in Nairobi and all was fine.

If anyone has any plans to go, I would continue with those plans.

My 02. cents worth!
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Old Feb 8th, 2008, 03:17 PM
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That's good to hear since I leave on Monday for Kenya-hope I'm not the only guest at all the camps.
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Old Feb 8th, 2008, 03:18 PM
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Welcome back,Divewop! I heard Peter wasn't available as your guide in Tanzania due to the death of a family member. I'm glad to hear all else went well for you.
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Old Feb 8th, 2008, 04:14 PM
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Thanks, ShayTay.
Yeah, Peter had a death in his family so he wasn't available. The Kibo camp and staff were wonderful though.

Long story but the guide who replaced Peter, I was not impressed with at all.
I'll send you an email on the details as soon as I get some much needed sleep.

Moremiles, many of the camps in Kenya are almost empty. The main Governor's camp in the Mara is closed and only Little and IL Moran are operating. Other camps in the Mara and other parks are closed as well or operating on a very small scale.

It is a shame because the country really needs the tourist dollars right now.

I didn't feel the least bit unsafe anywhere in the country or at anytime near or in Nairobi. I'd go back tomorrow given half a chance!
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 04:14 AM
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Karibu nyumbani, Divewop!
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 04:20 AM
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Thanks Divewop and welcome home!
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 04:50 AM
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Thanks for reporting in with your first-hand Kenya experiences and especially while in Nairobi.

After catching up with sleep, looking forward to hearing more.
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 06:42 AM
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Welcome home Divewop! Looking forward to all the details.
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 02:42 PM
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I'm sorry to hear that the replacement guide wasn't up to par. I know that Kibo is swamped right now, so they must have grabbed a last-minute replacement that wasn't the best.
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Old Feb 10th, 2008, 04:00 AM
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As one of the 8,000 (out of an expected 100,000) tourists to actually visit Kenya in January I've been following the ups and downs of the negotiations carefully. One day Kofi Annan is 'optimistic' and Raila is talking compromise, the next day you see comments like these at a rally:

Kibaki "must step down or there must be a re-election — in this I will not be compromised," Odinga shouted in East Africa's common language of Swahili to cheering supporters.

It was a sharp turnaround from comments he made in English two days earlier in the capital, Nairobi. He indicated he would not insist on Kibaki's resignation, saying "we are willing to give and take."


Quotes from this article:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2...politics_N.htm

I fear it will take a while for things to settle but at least the violence and killing seems to have ebbed.

Bill
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