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Kenya: U.S. Govt Sends Mixed Messages on Crisis
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31 January 2008
Posted to the web 31 January 2008
Brian Kennedy
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".
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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.
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
Bonnie is a beneficiary of a flawed system. he is an idiot who has sucked blood from all other Kenyans through punitive taxes. for your information Bonnie's Kikuyu President, after stealing the vote, has fraudlently created a tax to continue fanning violence. What have poor refugees done to Kikuyu's that the Mungiki in police uniform should go to their houses and kill them. You know, it is better we all lost and see where all the DCs, Kikuyu, All permanent secretaries-Kikuyu, all Senior police officers including I.P Maina who killed MP Were will get their salaries. No wonder you make... [Read Full Text]
i'm surprised you even know how to use a computer after having read your commentary...its sad that people should come to this forum and defend something that does not even exist! if you are nothing but a tribe alone then you are nothing - an empty shell waiting to be infused with hate and propaganda often preached in the confines of your home. the result of such indoctrination leads to fanatic behavior and when unchecked leads to the killings we are currently experiencing in Kenya. Yes my dear kikuyu brother - kikuyus are hardworking and all the other array of... [Read Full Text]
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