Resolving the Post-Election Crisis in Kenya - Letter to Senator Barbara Boxer

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:58:22 -0800
 
The letter copied below has been sent to Senator Barbara Boxer of California in her capacity as Member of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee. You too can send it with your name and address. The higher the volume the greater the impact.

Leo Juma
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Dear Senator Barbara Boxer,

Re: Resolving the Post-Election Crisis in Kenya

I am a Kenyan American and a resident of your senatorial constituency of California.

First, I want to thank you most sincerely for the good work you are doing for the people of California, in particular, and United States, in general. I also recognize and applaud your position and services in The Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

I am respectfully requesting your moral support toward resolving the current post-electoral crisis in Kenya. The crisis has caused death to at least 800 persons, displaced about 250,000 people, and destroyed property worth billions. The crisis has also interrupted the movement of goods to and from neighboring East and Central African countries.

I fear for Kenya if the current political crisis is not resolved promptly and satisfactorily. Could Kenya become like Rwanda, where, in 1994, civil unrest led to horrendous ethnic genocide? Or could Kenya become like neighboring Somalia, which has had a civil war during the last 20 years, and is now a haven of pirates and Al Qaeda terrorists? Or could we follow in the footsteps of Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe’s dictatorial rule is driving the country to deepening economic ruin and social misery?

The following is brief background information to the crisis. On December 27, 2007, the people of Kenya peacefully voted to elect a president, parliamentarians, and councilors. However, the tallying and announcement of presidential results, which gave victory to the incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of the Party of National Unity (PNU), were contested by the leading opposition candidate, Mr. Raila Odinga of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Independent electoral observers from United Nations, African Union, European Union, Law Society of Kenya, and other agencies also reported that the presidential electoral results were flawed and lacked credibility. The chairman of Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), Mr. Samuel Kivuitu, has said that he was pressured by PNU agents to declare Mr. Kibaki as the winner, and that he does not know who won the elections.

Upon announcement of presidential results from apparently rigged elections provoked protest demonstrations in many cities throughout the country. Some protestors engaged in criminal acts of destruction of property and looting. In certain places inhabited by people from different tribes, the protest took a tribal dimension, unfortunately. Violence occurred between members of tribes that predominantly supported opposition ODM and incumbent PNU candidates. People attacked each other with machetes and arrows, and burned houses of neighbors. The displacement of persons and suffering is greatest among poor Kenyans living in urban slums and rural farmlands.

The crisis remains unresolved and volatile. Mr. Raila Odinga and his ODM is demanding the resignation of Mr. Kibaki, and are using public demonstration to press their quest. Mr. Kibaki and his ruling clique have taken hard-line position. They are using police to break up opposition demonstration. The police have shot dead at least 50 demonstrators.

I recognize and appreciate previous and current efforts by local and international communities to resolve the problem through mediation between President Kibaki and Mr. Odinga. Some of the people and agencies that have been involved in the mediation include Nobel peace Laureate, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Chairman of African Union and President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor, four former presidents of Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia, and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms Jendayi Frazer. So far, the mediation efforts have not had produced significant positive result. Both leaders of the government and opposition have taken hard line stands and are yet even to get together and discuss the problems. As such, there is need for more pressure to be put on these combatants for the sake of peace and prosperity in Kenya.

Please, in your capacity as member of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, could you add your voice to the call for speedy and judicious resolution of this crisis in Kenya? I believe that your input might just provide the critical momentum to tip current or future mediation efforts to success.

Previous mediators have proposed several steps which could restore democracy and ensure long-term stability in Kenya. These include:

1. Immediate cessation of post-election violence and provision of humanitarian aid to displaced persons and other victims.

2. Setting up a caretaker government under the supervision of African Union and United Nations.

3. Re-run of presidential elections under supervision of neutral national and international agencies.

4. When and if necessary, calling for international community to isolate, sanction and ostracize persons who frustrate the mediation process.

I thank you for your time and hope for your support.

Respectfully,

Leo Juma, CA, USA