Kama jaluo rade gi joluo wadgi

Dear Condoleeza Rice,
United States Secretary Of State.

As a US citizen with family in Kenya, I am alarmed at the United State's initial reaction to the disputed Kenyan election.

All foreign observers including the EU have raised serious concerns and withheld congratulatory messages to Mwai Kibaki, who hurriedly swore himself in office after a disputed election.

The congratulatory messages by the US envoy to Mwai Kibaki, emboldened him to deal ruthlessly with the opposition's protestation, after he (Kibaki) unceremoniously swore himself in office last Sunday night, less than 1 hour after being declared winner.

The knee-jerk action by the US envoy was a mistake that could very well be the onset of genocide in an otherwise peaceful nation that Kenya is.

Even though the State Department has recalled the congratulatory message, The United States, being a champion of democracy and rule of law by civilians, must move swiftly to send a clear and strong message that natures democratic principles.

The Kenyan Government must be condemned for use of live bullets to quell wanainchi's (voter's) protestation. The US understands that looters lawless demonstrators must be arrested and prosecuted and not shot at sight with live bullets.

The US must demand that the Opposition must be accorded freedom of expression, and that in turn must use it peacefully.

The US must also demand that the Kibaki government withdraws the ban of live media broadcast, and stop forthwith the harassment of press houses that are not pro-government.

Life is precious and all efforts must now be made to prevent a civil war. As influential as the Unites States is in it's foreign policy of spreading democracy throughout the world, The United States must lead from the front and do it now.

A lot of lives have already been lost. The US' action must be swift, right and clear. This action could prevent further loss of lives, unless the US' national security interest in Kenya does not include preventing genocide.

May God bless the United States and Kenya.