Brian Kennedy
31 January 2008
Washington, DC — The United States' top diplomat on Africa described the violence in Kenya's Rift Valley as "ethnic cleansing" on Wednesday, but hours later the State Department spokesman in Washington, DC, backed off, calling the situation "evolving" and "fluid."
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer, visiting the African Union summit in Addis Ababa after visiting Kenya, reportedly told journalists: "There was ethnic cleansing in Kenya. I listened to the victims."
However, spokesman Sean McCormack said at the department's daily press briefing that he would "let her [Frazer's] statement stand on its own."
"Jendayi Frazer... was reflecting back to the press corps her first hand view of the situation in the Rift Valley based on her travel there," he added. McCormack reported that a State Department office is collecting information on the violence in the Rift Valley, and the office would report its findings sometime in the future.
"Very often, the case with these kind of circumstances is that you don't have a full understanding, a complete picture of what happened, until the situation is over and things have calmed down," he said.
The Rift Valley has been the scene of some of the worst post-election violence in Kenya, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and displacement of thousands more. In a statement last week, Human Rights Watch accused opposition leaders of organizing the violence in the Rift Valley, especially around the town of Eldoret.
"We have evidence that ODM [Opposition Democratic Movement] politicians and local leaders actively fomented some post-election violence," said Georgette Gagnon, the organization's acting Africa director.
Frazer blamed ethnic groups supporting both the opposition – such as the Luo and Kalenjin – and the government – the Kikuyu – for the violence. "The first wave of violence, it was primarily in the Rift Valley, and it was Kalenjin pushing out Kikuyu. But that may now be spreading to Kikuyus pushing out the Luos and Kalenjin," she said.
Most experts and observers have commented that the attacks in the Rift Valley have been well-organized, while violence in other parts of Kenya has seemed more spontaneous.
The concern over violence spiraling out of control in the Rift Valley puts more pressure on President Mwai Kibaki, opposition leader Raila Odinga and their political allies to reach an agreement to end the political standoff that ensued after Kenya's disputed presidential election in December.
Both sides are facing increased international pressure to settle, especially from the United States. McCormack on Wednesday reiterated the call for a political solution that his boss, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, made a day earlier.
"The election was not one that inspired confidence in the Kenyan people and, therefore, there needs to be a political arrangement, a political solution between the major opposition candidate and the president," Rice said Tuesday.
The United States is reviewing its aid to Kenya but is unlikely to make many cuts – most of the aid is spent on HIV/Aids programs.
Wednesday was not the first time the State Department has sent mixed messages in responses to the Kenyan election. The U.S. initially congratulated Kibaki for winning re-election, then quickly withdrew its statement. Observers have described the election as seriously flawed.
The next mixed message from the U.S. Government will likely be the result of differences not within the State Department, but between the department and Congress.
The State Department has been calling for a power-sharing agreement because diplomats believe it would be very difficult to determine who won the elections. The ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, contributing from Nairobi to a recent Washington panel discussion, dismissed a recount. Documents had gone missing or been altered, he said, and a new election would be a "huge trauma".
But on Wednesday the United States Senate passed a resolution supporting an international audit of the election results. Next Wednesday, the House of Representatives will enter the action, holding a hearing on Kenya.
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Kenyans voted for change. Its then so unfortunate that the wishes of the majority of Kenyans has been shortchanged. The world can say anything but the heart of the matter is that, Kenyans don't hate each other.Majority of Kenyans are living below the poverty line, while a few (selected from one community) are enjoying the fruits of this land. Look at the government jobs, i.e the permanent secretaries,Bank managers & so many other institutions. There is no equality at all. Kenyans want there right of being citizens of there own country. There is nothing like ethnic cleansing. Its just a message being passed. Just open your ears & listen to understand.If the status quo will stand, then it means, the poor will remain poor & even more poorer & the rich will have more time to steal from the poor.You can imagine that. We Kenyans want devolution of power & resources, back to the grassroots.With that in place, We will have peace. How would you treat a person who comes to stay in your place, and he gets a title deed ( Land ownership document )while you don't have. Land issue is a big problem which has been boiling for a long time and just imaged after the stolen presidential election.I strongly disagree with whoever says it was planed by ODM leaders in rift valley.
charojaji,u fail to understand that you are not the only kenyan who voted.you voted for what..change? change that all the kikuyus holding the chairmanship of the major companies and goverment instutions would be handed to luos?you are thinking selfishly.every kenyan has a right to own land every part of kenya he wishes and thats the law.infact i have a piece that am selling if you are interested.we must stop this TRIBALISM.its the main cause of crisis in the riftvalley and nyanza.let us ask ourself why is it that we dont hear chaos in central province in places like thika,nyeri,muranga and eastern province too?......it is widely known that you luos like spending your money kiujingaujinga tu.thats why kikuyus use their cunnning ways to buy land from you.if it werent for the lake victoria you could be the pourest tribe in kenya coz you are so lazy.go to the central province and see the plantations that clearly shows hardwork shown by your rivals kikuyus.
the crisis in kenya is not between luos and kikuyus. but it is all over the country. the government rigged the elections thinking that it would be war between kikuyus and luos but they misadvised. also to claim that luos are lazy is fallcious. arise beyond tribal politics.
Bonnie you are nothing but a bone head. You are very clearly the kind of people who are instigating hatred in Kenya. I will answer your questions for you. The reason there is no violence in Central Province is because that area is not as diverse as say Kisumu or Rift valley, it is generally populated by kikuyus. Now as for the Change issue brought about by Chorajaji, why u attack her i dont understand. Out of 41 tribes in Kenya, only about three voted for Mr. Kibaki, that should tell you something. Kenya has never had violence of such magnitude ever since its independence and as tolerable as Kenyans are, it reached a point that they could not take all the corruption and deceit lying down. We had 24 years of that with Moi and with democracy came freedom. The very Kibaki who is now acting as a dictator came into power because of the fight for democracy by Kenyans. Before this elections the aligned himself with Moi who is grandmaster dictator himself, so how can he claim to be duly elected. The reason why Kenyans are taking arms is not because they hate each other its because they cannot stand to be victims of oppression anymore.
Giddie
Mozie got it wrong. Kikuyus, just like Luos voted for their own man. All other tribes were all divided. Look at Kisii in Nyanza. In fact PNU has seats in Nyanza thanks to Kisii votes that were given to President Kibaki. Look at Western Province. An area where Muvadadi had been hoodwinked into believing he would become the vice president, many people gave President Kibaki votes. Look at Coast. An area people had been cheated by raila that it would be a jimbo (federal) la pwani. Many still wouldn't hear of it and they gave kibaki quite some votes. Rift Valley, save for the Kalenjins and some Masaai, they voted for Kibaki. All other provinces in Kenya voted for Kibaki. People knew the strategy Raila had applied with Professor Wanyande and other arm-chair weekend Luo and Kalenjin warriors of divide Kikuyus and rule. Actually, had it not by the mercy of almighty God through Jesus Christ, all Kikuyus would have died if raila took over power. We will never forgive him and Kalenjins for killing innocent Kenyans. It is even believed that Nairobi voted for Raila. This is not true. PNU had fronted very many parties and each had a candidate. The ODM had only one candidate and so it took the advantage of the split parties. However, president Kibaki carried the day in all constituenies except Langata and Westlands which were believed to have been riggid in favor of Raila.
Kdgideon, You got it wrong, Kibaki can not be elected except by stupid Kikuyus, Fact PNU 34 seats. Last cabinet; out of 36-only 10 went back after stealing. Why did Kibaki put Police at KICC, if he was elected by majority Kenyans. Why did he take oath at statehouse instead of traditional Uhuru park. Who was at the night swearing in anyway. His assaultive mental case wife, His Kikuyu chief Justice, His Kikuyu registrar of Society, His Kikuyu Chief of General Staff, His Kikuyu-Secretary of Cabinet. Not a single diplomat, Not a single guest of state from any country, Nothing. Admit! he is daft even in a profession known as Kikuyu profession-Theft and Murder, he could not do it well. He was caught. Kikuyus can lie to themselves the much they want, If they continue to treat other Kenyans like second class citizens, they will see fire that they have never seen in their entire life. They will be evicted again and again until they realize that Kenya is made up of 42 tribes and not just stupid Kikuyu.
AM G ODHIAMBO, HI BROTHERS PLEASE WE ARE NOT IN THE DAYS OF DARKNESS WE ARE IN LIGHT LET US AVOID ABUSIVE TERM, CAUSE WE ARE ALL BROTHERS SAWASAWA. PLEASE TO CHANU KENI. SECOND ITS NOT ANY ONE TO STOP THIS KILLING ITS WE, THIRD LET US LEAVE THIS ISSUES TO THIS TWO LEADERS RAILA AND KIBAKI , THEY KNOW OUR THEY WILL HANDLE IT OK. 4TH WE SHOULD NOT REVENGE OR ELSE NO ONE WILL REMAIN IN THIS COUNTRY OF OURS LAST WAZUNGUS WILL COME BACK AND FOR THEM TO DRIVE AWAY AS OUR FORE FATHERS DID WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE, PLEASE TUZUIE NOMA GOD BLESS YOU GOD BLESS KENYA.
See all comments (12).
Kenyans voted for change. Its then so unfortunate that the wishes of the majority of Kenyan has been shortchanged. The world can say anything but the heart of the matter is that, Kenyans don't hate each other.Majority of Kenyans are living below the poverty line, while a few (selected from one community) are enjoying the fruits of this land. Look at the government jobs, i.e the permanent secretaries,Bank managers & so many other institutions. There is no equality at all. Kenyans want there right of being citizens of there own country. There is nothing like ethnic cleansing. Its just a message being passed. Just open your eyes & listen to understand.If the status quo will stand, then it means, the poor will remain poor & even more poorer & the rich will have more time to steal from the poor.You can imagine that. We Kenyans want devolution of power & resources, back to the grassroots.With that in place, We will have peace. How would you treat a person who come to stay in your place, and he get a title deed ( ownership of land )while you don't have. Land issue is a big problem which imaged after the stolen presidential election.I disagree with whoever says it was planed by ODM leaders in rift valley.