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Kenya crisis jeopardises Africa's emergence from poverty
Written by: Peter Apps
A child peers over belongings at a Nairobi shelter. REUTERS/Antony Njugun
The sudden outbreak of violence plaguing Kenya since last week's disputed elections may have sparked a humanitarian crisis, but the real damage may go far deeper. Only a few weeks ago, with fears mounting of a global economic downturn following the US sub prime mortgage crisis, Africa was being viewed by some investors as a relatively safe bet for the first time in recent decades. The end of major wars in western and southern Africa, a string of non-violent elections and decent if not spectacular economic growth figures across a string of countries was sparking new interest and optimism. "In some ways, we are where India was in the early 1990s," African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka told me in mid-December. "We are at the point where Africa is no longer an object of just pity and aid." Kenya was regarded as central to this process. Sadly, the recent violence has potentially jeopardised that, investors say. African growth was seen in the context of good growth across most developing economies, with the world's poorest having better access to banking and capital than ever before. Shortly before Christmas, a report showed that microcredit - tiny loans to the poorest at relatively high rates of interest - had boomed from reaching only 13 million recipients a decade earlier to 10 times that number, with half a billion people benefiting around the world, if family members of recipients were taken into account. Many of those recipients were part of the world's "bottom billion" of people living on less than a dollar a day. The majority of the growth was in Asia, but Africa was seen to be following suit, with innovative Kenyan projects considered the most promising. Now, the speed of Kenya's deterioration is potentially putting off investors and donors from risking more money in Africa, Reuters correspondent Matthew Tostevin writes, particularly as it comes at the same time as growing worries over the future leadership of the previous success story South Africa. Populist former Deputy President Jacob Zuma beat current president Thabo Mbeki to take the leadership of the ruling African National Congress in December, but must face renewed corruption charges in court before United takes over from Mbeki in 2009. Hardly a surprise, then, that developments in Kenya were said to be spreading gloom across the continent. Comparisons with Rwanda's genocide may be excessive, Alastair Thomson writes, but images of torture churches and fleeing civilians do little to encourage fresh money. Kenya's current crisis may pass - but even if it does, the long-term damage will remain, slowing any African growth and therefore the emergence of many ordinary Africans from poverty. And it is worth remembering that preventable infant illnesses, childbirth complications and poverty-related disease kill many more than high profile crises such as the present violence.
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27 responses to “Kenya crisis jeopardises Africa's emergence from poverty”
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Peter Apps covered business, politics, disaster, disease, agriculture and occasional crime stories for Reuters in southern Africa before being reposted to Sri Lanka just in time for a new outbreak of civil war. A minibus crash on assignment in September 2006 broke his neck and left him quadriplegic. Nine months to the day after the crash, he was released from hospital in a wheelchair and returned to work for AlertNet in London, scheming his return to field reporting.
09 Jan 2008 10:02:33 GMT
North Americans, myself included, cannot help but group the entire continent of Africa together. With so much strife within the last 10 years (Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Kenya, etc.), one wonders when it will end.
Anyways my opinion is that it will be foreign investment (and influence) in Africa that brings the continent to enlightenment and economic prosperity. Events such as this certainly scare away investors. Myself I have invested in more than one Canadian company that is exploring for resources in Africa and will likely continue to do so. I don't do this for charitable purposes but that is certainly 'value added' for many of investors. Hopefully, investors will continue to take on these risky investments or Africa will remain 3rd world for a very long time.09 Jan 2008 10:03:26 GMT
Kibaki should step down now as a matter of priority. All sane people agree that the Kenyan election was rigged. The evidence is too overwhelming. Kibaki is evil and those who are slow to condemn his evil ways are equally culpable. Thank God a new world order is in the offing. The world is at its weakest with regards to sanity/morality. God Save the world!!! Change must come sooner rather than later
09 Jan 2008 10:13:04 GMT
NO RAILA NO PEACE! NO RAILA NOPEACE!NO RAILA NO PEACE!NO RAILA NO PEACE!No RAILA NO PEACE!NO RAILA NO PEACE!
09 Jan 2008 11:14:43 GMT
this whole issue is between kikuyus and luos. They have been having grudges for along time, they forget that Kenya is not for the two tribes. So somebody else should take over since Raila is a wolf in sheep skin he is not different from Kibaki.
09 Jan 2008 14:10:59 GMT
What is international law and the UN for? Kibaki should be investigated and retired with penalties if found guilty for election fraud law for election fraud and for resultant death and suffering of the kikuyu and and affected Kenyans if found guilty. The US should step up and call on Kibaki to iommediately resign so that a rerun of the polls. Raila is trying to help the country grow fairly.US should simply condemn Kibaki and declare him an illegal president.
10 Jan 2008 18:48:14 GMT
The author of this article is crying about the investors who are not in favour of the "violence" in Kenya these days and foresees dark days for Africa. A shame for REUTERS and ALERTNET reporting in this way about a conflict in an African country in which the opposition has been stripped of their constitutional rights by a corrupt and lawless government. What do you prefer ? You want a dictatorship ,that surely suite the investors more and is more stable and reliable. Or do you prefer a situation like in the DR Congo or Irak, where the investors exploit the country by the means of armed conflict themselves. I bet you do ! But I hope that your readers are more intelligent as you think and understand that investment in human rights and human dignity counts more than just money. Let the Kenyans find their way to democracy as we had hundreds of years and hundreds of wars in Europe until we came to that sandy ground we are presently standing on ourselves.
14 Jan 2008 12:49:57 GMT
WE lined up and voted for change but the unfortunate thing IS THAT the power hungerier took over our ultimate decisions of the next five years. it is saddening that our leaders in africa are greedy for power forgetting the point that one DAY they will die and leave power.in kenya the gap between the poor and rich is becoming wider, we were expecting the change that through our voters card but alas! the change we have been yawning for has not yet come. we will keep struggling and demanding for our rights.whatever it takes time will tell. we shall never relent we shall never surrender. GOD BLESS KENYA
14 Jan 2008 12:51:10 GMT
I am a Kikuyu. I also know that Kibaki stole the elections. Though most of my tribesman would want him to cling to power, I think the international community must put pressure on him to respect the verdict of Kenyans. The CIA should consider assassinating him for the good of the majority of Kenyans. Better one dead Kibaki that 34 million dead Kenyans! As it stands, he doesn't care if Kenya burns. His aim is to cling to Kenya's presidency no matter what.
16 Jan 2008 07:59:37 GMT
I know that the whole country knows waht happened. I feel that the president and the chairman Electoral commision of Kenya had the power to stop waht happened. The ECK chairman is reported saying that he is not aware of who won the elcttions. What then does he expect that folk in the rural area do. If he who was given the mandate to oversee the elections does not know who won then who knows. He is even quoted saying that he saw the elections return forms that had alterations and even asked one of the officers to use a lower figure for the case of Juja but the said officer refused. what does this mean. On the other side if Kibaki knew and was sure that he had won the elections what harm would it have done to wait and even ask the ECK to look into the raised issues. Why did he have to rush. What about Kalonzo who has openly said that the elections were stolen. What moral ground is he standing on then to ask Kenyans to accept the resu! lts and move on. If he was not selfish why did he not wait resolve the differences then get into cabinet. We were told of the sms doing rounds in Ukambani on 26th Dccember to the effect that he was a vice president nominee it has come to pass. Wht do these leaders think that we are all stupid and gullible. What about Gicheru did he also act under pressure? What about the registrar of the High court was she also forced to rush to State house. I now know that there are those who get information on elections 20 hrs before the rest of the country. No wonder thats why Mutula and kalonzo were pushing for the anouncement of the results they knew the outcome but it did not make sense since they were on the oposing side. It only exposses their greed. We however remain optimistic that one day the truth shall stand since Allah is greater than all of them. The deaths so far recorded are shared out between all the leaders who were trusted with the process as well as those who played an a! ctive role in ensuring that their partisan interests were safeguarded. We are strong and will rise above these shortcmings of our leaders. Amin
16 Jan 2008 08:03:32 GMT
What is the way-forward in Kenya?yes, rigging was the order of the day,both Kibaki and Raila stole and is evident, a better thief won.As usual and since with African leaders stepping down is never an option.Odinga should call it a day or else lead us down the path of DEATH.May God forbide this.Let Peace rule in Kenya.
16 Jan 2008 08:04:01 GMT
Kenyans, it is time to move on as complains will not build us but create more hate. Everybody voted for a change but its unfortunate what happened,at least now we've learnt from few mistakes that we never observed during the whole election process. Lets take this as a lesson and move on to build our nation and try to capture what was lost during the chaos. Lets love one another just like before because united we move, divided we fall. Lets put our anger behind us and forgive and forget no matter how hard it is. By forgiving and forgeting it shall make it easy to love each other once again.
16 Jan 2008 08:04:04 GMT
No, I dont think tribalism is the main or only issue here. Its a fight for social justice. This is because the clashes are taking place within people of certain SOCIAL classes only.
I think the solution to our current situation is dialogue, as shallow as that word sounds. Dialogue facilitated by people who understand our culture and heritage. Prayer is the ultimate thing that will help us16 Jan 2008 08:06:15 GMT
I think the international media should be ashamed of their constant war mongering and one sided view to African countries so that they can fill screens in the Western world with pictures that purpot that Africa is full of uncivilised and barbarian people. We are civilised and we are educated, the reason Kenya is in turmoil now is because Kibaki obviously thinks we are all stupid. We are fighting for our rights as they have done all across Europe and America all be it years ago. But where are the stories of HOPE? There are so many!!!! Kenyan businesses and ordinary citizens sharing what little they have with the displaced. Local celebrities using their influence to appeal for calm, peace and reconcilitation. Why isn't the world shown these stirling examples of the Kenyan spirit shinning through even in times of adversity?
16 Jan 2008 08:07:21 GMT
Kenyans woke up very early in december 27th 2007 and voted peacefully expecting a peaceful life thereafter. To everybody's dismay, we are in war! Kenyans let's give peace a chance. We have many of our brothers, sisters, colleagues at work and fellow kenyans who are dying, sick, going without food, helter, water, etc... Can we have Hon. Kibaki and Hon. Raila speak up sort out this mess! justice must prevail if we are to have peace.... back to our national anthem... "justice be our shield and defender... so no justice no shield and defence... hence more vulnerable... no Kenyan is more important than the other. I submit all to God who notices every tear His child sheds and every smile on our faces!
16 Jan 2008 09:51:06 GMT
Iwatched keenly yesterdy when the speaker was being elected,and the way the learned friends were interpreting the constitution,and the way the president was following,i think in his mind he realised that the people he is leading are not fools.instead of him being mislead that he can not surrender and in the longlast he will be ashemed,the earlier the better.surely if Kibaki may force his way and for five years ,then the problem of the tribal differences will never cease in kenya.After his five yeas he will leave the kikuyu communite in aterrable situation both economically and socially. So for the sake of his people who are everywhere in Kenya and the kenyans he MUST do somethng.The kenyans PEACE is on his HANDS if he can do something today ,before next week there will be total PEACE in KENYA.
16 Jan 2008 13:03:11 GMT
i am very pertubed with what i see happening in my country,especially the suffering of mothers & children,all this because of selfish interest of few individuals who think this country belongs to them.Kibaki & his group of opportunists should think twice as history will judge them hashly very soon.Let the truth prevail
17 Jan 2008 10:25:17 GMT
It is sad to see that well meaning Kenyans voted for leaders and now have to be incited against other tribes and used by the same politicians to take up mass action yet they are the same ones suffering.... Their shops are being looted and their kids aint going to school yet their leaders children are dropped in school by body guards or are not even studying in the country.Some are even losing dear life!!
The outside world is also partly to blame because they report one sided stories in support of the opposition. What about the 40-50% who voted for Kibaki and believe he won the election? Dont they have a voice? THEY SHOULD REACH FOR THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY TOO! Finally, Kenyans should be careful not to bring to ruins what we have achieved in the past 5 years all because of selfish politicians whose only care is to go into history as having been Kenyas president. Remember that Kenya is bigger than Kibaki or Raila! GOD BLESS KENYA, OUR MOTHERLAND!18 Jan 2008 11:24:25 GMT
To all the calling a spoon a spoon and not a smaller spade is the reality. There is mistake there is a mistake but for long will Kikuyus keep quite and say that enough is enough especially cardinal Njue he should ask all kenyan to protest against a thief and Kick Kibaki from attended the church, the incident that Christian booed kibaki and members of the pres s and civilians being robbed cameras and phones was a clear thing from the church that it should speak the truth.
There is nothing tribal in the demonstration bacuse if in Kakameka in Nyanza in Eldoret in Narok in Kajiado in Mombasa most people are helding protest it becoming clear that even a saved Kikuyu is tribal and he used jesus only in churhc to speak the truth by protesting against Kikabi will make earlier recovery and that Kenya will be able to go on. Kikuyus a demo frm you peope will help the world understand that things are bad if you dont remember this Kibaki will be remove in a given time but you will need you own state called mt kenya republic to live after Kabaki is not president. Please Kikyus join the majoroity of Kenyans and emrassed democrazy otherwise you will only sell yourselfs good with mungiki protecting you. We need each other for democracy to prevail21 Jan 2008 10:37:09 GMT
This was a closely contested election with several irregularities on both sides.Kibakis supporters have not given their side of the story and the world has been made to believe that he won the elections unfairly .Rigging claims began even before the elections ( several policemen were killed by Railas supporters on the eve of the elections in Nyanza province). what is needed is for Raila to concede defeat and enter into some form of dialogue with Kibaki instead of trying to attract sympathy from the west.
22 Jan 2008 15:30:19 GMT
Iam a proud Kenyan residing in Munich, Germany.Even the most silliest creauture in the whole universe would tell that kibaki and his croonies, including Kalonzo musyoka, mutula kilonzo and other selfish zombies masterminded the election results announcement knowing very well that the figures had been played with.
What was the hurry in just being electeted to the cabinet while Kenya was burning EVERYWHERE E.X.C.E.P.T. central and eastern provinces where apparently 94% of the cabinet comes from???????? Kalonzo, as a matter of fact, Kenyans had already known of your planned election to the VP's post on boxing day's eve. Was this you were going all round the country for???? All the resourses, energy, just for you to be elected a LAME DUCK VP?? Come on, mr.clean........ This was just a ploy to spoil for Hon. the rightfully elected President Raila Odinga. I thought you are a born again christian. And by any chance if you still are, remember....... GOD is watching, and he shall make His final decision. Aluta continua......................22 Jan 2008 16:52:22 GMT
I was in Kenya during the election period and i admit that the elections were rigeed..BY BOTH SIDES..The better thief won. Kenyans must remember that Moi ruled for 24 years and he also rigged elections in 1992 and 1997.Thus a common trend in Africa. However, those Kikuyus who are being killed didnt ssteal any elections and neither have they had any freebies from state house thus they are innocent kenyans being massacared and leaders like Ruto and Kosgey should face the hague for genocide
27 Jan 2008 11:38:42 GMT
I was in kenya during the election and saw goverment rig the elections and even ECK chairman once said the results were being cooked before rig election from kibaki strong hold were delayed for no reason other than waiting to see how much votes opposition leader was leading him with so that they can add rig votes to make it look like he won. Although kenyans were not to be foolled, If kibaki was good leader and treat all kenyans the same as he promise in last election rather than better only kikuyus. There would have no this violence all tribes from mombasa to eldoret against kikuyus. Infact kenyans could have been happy to re-elect him and cellebrate on his return like they did in 2002 where majority of kenyans gather in uhuru park to see him sworn in and sang national anthem, that never happen after this election as he, kibaki new he rig the votes and kenyans knew his dirty tricks and never wanted him back again to rule the co! untry so he couldnt face the public so was quick sworn in in private. Kibaki has got peace for this country on his hands and if he loves and respect kenyans and want the best for this country then he should step down He kibaki and his ECK members who led this violence and killings of innocent kenyans should be held for genocide..... MAY GOD BLESS KENYA...
28 Jan 2008 14:16:13 GMT
when all is said and done it no longer matters who is in power among the two protagonists. we have a much deeper problem to contend with. and that is living together especially among the kikuyu,luo and the kalenjin. and this is what we should be asking each other. kibaki or raila not withstanding though at this point i think that neither of them should be president of kenya. and not kalonzo either. he sold out on all of us. we need a new name.
30 Jan 2008 16:40:02 GMT
I watched the negotiation launch yesterday and what hurt me most was the presence of Mutula Kilonzo negotiating for PNU. Mutula and Musyoka the VP should know that they have been rejected by Kenyans across the board and their political future is hunging on a thin thread.I do not recognise the Presidency of Kibaki and like many Kenyans home and abroad the call is Kibaki should just step down and alow for a rerun as proposed before. If he is so popular let him prove it in a rerun.
31 Jan 2008 12:09:59 GMT
I lived in Kenya as an African foreigner, an East African. What I saw in Kenya was extreme tribalism. Jobs are given according to tribes. Wealth distribution is according to tribes. Even diplomatic appointments is according to what tribe one belongs to in relation to the incumbent president. There is hatred everywhere and politicians exploit this to gain votes, not with the aim of bringing change, but for making money for themselves. Cultures in Kenya are different. There are some cultures that demean others while promoting particular groups. In my view Kenya was likely to erupt anyway. The attainment of independence marginalized others while privileging certain elitist groups. Those groups continue to exploit the poor, using them at election time only. Kenya is one of the most unequal countries I have been too. There are pickpockets, armed robbers, and a lot of witchcraft. Political leaders consult mediums on how to defeat ! their opponents, they hire witchdoctors to curse their opponents. There is hatred everywhere, as well as suspicion, mistrust, rivalry, discontentment and atmosphere has been potential volatile.
06 Feb 2008 10:21:38 GMT
The truth of the matter is that we in Kenya expect the international community to help us strengthen our democratic institutions if at all they expect to trade and socialize with us as a nation.We have seen before our very own eyes when the Electoral Commission of Kenya collapsed due to pressure from the executive and declared a poll loser (Kibaki) as the winner.Then the whole world expect us to tolerate the nonsense!WATCH THIS SPACE YOU AINT SEEN ANYTHING YET!If we are to do business then let us build strong democratic foundations
06 Feb 2008 17:21:26 GMT
Odinga's ODM had been "supremely and idiotically naive" to think they could run a civil disobedience campaign without it leading to violence, Oxford University's Professor David Anderson said.
And Odinga's poor judgement plus lack of gravitas in handling the crisis had shattered his would-be image as a pan-African statesman able to carry Kenya forward, he said. "I think he's dead in the water," Anderson said.