Kenya Indymedia

While the international media focuses on shocking stories of ethnic violence in Kenya following a disputed presidential election, activists with Kenya Indymedia (Kenya.indymedia.org) are working to create a space where their fellow citizens can “voice their thoughts, fears, tribulations and aspirations” and strive toward restoring peace in their society. Look for their website to be re-launched in the coming days. John David Bwakili of Kenya Indymedia was forced to flee escalating ethnic tensions in his neighborhood in the capital city of Nairobi and shared his thoughts in an email interview with The Indypendent.

Indypendent: What is the current situation?

JDB: Currently, there is a general uneasy calm as business struggles to get back to its feet. However, Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement have vowed that there will be nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday. The government has however outlawed them so a major confrontation is likely. Both parties have agreed on John Kuffour, Ghana’s president and current chair of the African Union, as the mediator between them.

Indypendent: Are there many groups like yours working to bring people together and end the violence?

JDB: There are three major groups: One is known as Concerned Citizens for Peace. It is probably the highest level group as it comprises of Kenya’s preeminent peace negotiators whose work was instrumental in attaining peace in Sudan and Somalia. There is also a group of some of Kenya’s main musicians who have united to use music as a means of realizing peace. There is another peace for eminent women in Kenya who have also united for a similar reason. The Red Cross is spearheading relief efforts and is supported in this endeavor by local media houses, amongst others.

Indypendent: What are they doing? And, what are their chances of success?

JDB: Apart from Red Cross, most of the other groups are still trying to find a coherent strategy. So for now, they are mainly appealing for peace even as they send out their own peace messages.

Indypendent: What is the role of Kenya Indymedia in this moment?

JDB: Kenya Indymedia’s work at this moment can be summed into two: enable hundreds of Kenyans across the country to voice their thoughts, fears, tribulations and aspirations; Use this information from Kenyans and people globally to zero in on possible concrete action points towards peace.

Indypendent: Why does tribal identity continue to be so strong in Kenya?

JDB: There are a lot of pre and post-independence roots for tribalism in Kenya. Perceived and/or actual political and economic dominance of certain communities has bred a measure of mistrust that has been expertly exploited by politicians, further exaserbating the situation.

Indypendent: Why are the Kikuyu the target of so much resentment?

JDB: The Kikuyu are the dominant community demographically, politically and economically. One of the mains bones of contention is that they have realized such dominance by systematically exploiting other communities. The recent elections, seemed to validate this point. The president, who is Kikuyu, only received overwhelming support from the Kikuyu. Even with the disputed results, the opposition has three times as many members of parliament than the president’s party.