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Kenya's Bush
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I love East Africa. I can't tell you how many nice people I met during my time there. It's been almost two weeks since I've been back. At first, it was quite deflating (both digestively and emotionally) to be home. I'm recovered now.
Kenya is alive with heated politics -- almost always tribal.
I spent my fair share of time there arbitrating friendly arguments -- like this one pictured here between Jedidah, Collins and Rowland. Collins was my host in Nairobi and runs EPS Progam. Rowland is my long time friend and a staff member of Village Enterprise Fund. Between them, they represent 3 tribes: Kikuyu, Luo and Luyha. What were they arguing about? Bush.
A week before I arrived, there was a discussion between Bush and President Kikwete of Tanzania where Bush reportedly referred to Kenya as "unstable". Later, it came out that Bush had simply lumped Kenya in with general political instability on the Horn of Africa. This kind of thing, as you can imagine, was not received so well. In no way do Kenyan's think of themselves in the same political category as Sudan and Somalia. Bush was asked to apologize but never did.
A casual mention in a diplomatic setting can have huge ramifications in a place like Kenya. Instantly, the mention was injected into local tribal politics. The Kikuyu, who are largely held to be the ruling class of Kenya, were highly offended. Since Kikuyu basically run Kenya, they took this as a slap in the face. Other tribes of less political clout manipulated the Bush remark to their own polical gain -- using it against the Kikuyu leadership. Some believe Bush knows more than they do and that Kenya is just one big assassination from complete unrest. Who knows? One thing is for sure, there is a heck of a lot of resentment in that country between those tribes in power and those cast aside.
Meanwhile, our government has been funding a privatized anti-warlord military campaign using American corporate solidiers. This is an interesting way of circumventing UN agreements. I wonder what it is like to work for a company like that...
Kenya is alive with heated politics -- almost always tribal.
I spent my fair share of time there arbitrating friendly arguments -- like this one pictured here between Jedidah, Collins and Rowland. Collins was my host in Nairobi and runs EPS Progam. Rowland is my long time friend and a staff member of Village Enterprise Fund. Between them, they represent 3 tribes: Kikuyu, Luo and Luyha. What were they arguing about? Bush.A week before I arrived, there was a discussion between Bush and President Kikwete of Tanzania where Bush reportedly referred to Kenya as "unstable". Later, it came out that Bush had simply lumped Kenya in with general political instability on the Horn of Africa. This kind of thing, as you can imagine, was not received so well. In no way do Kenyan's think of themselves in the same political category as Sudan and Somalia. Bush was asked to apologize but never did.
A casual mention in a diplomatic setting can have huge ramifications in a place like Kenya. Instantly, the mention was injected into local tribal politics. The Kikuyu, who are largely held to be the ruling class of Kenya, were highly offended. Since Kikuyu basically run Kenya, they took this as a slap in the face. Other tribes of less political clout manipulated the Bush remark to their own polical gain -- using it against the Kikuyu leadership. Some believe Bush knows more than they do and that Kenya is just one big assassination from complete unrest. Who knows? One thing is for sure, there is a heck of a lot of resentment in that country between those tribes in power and those cast aside.
Meanwhile, our government has been funding a privatized anti-warlord military campaign using American corporate solidiers. This is an interesting way of circumventing UN agreements. I wonder what it is like to work for a company like that...
