Other Nations Step In
In many cases, problems that start out in one country end up becoming international problems. The violence that followed the Kenyan elections in 2007 are no exception. Once the news of the rigged votes and the mass killing after Mwai Kibaki's win spread around the world, the United Nations (UN) knew that they had to take action. One member of the UN, John Holmes traveled to Kenya to see first hand what was going on. He found more than 100,000 refugees misplaced because of the violence. The UN encouraged Kenya to select a panel of men to mediate a negotiation between the Party of National Unity (Kibaki) and the Orange Democratic Movement. Among men selected to be on the panel was former UN leader Kofi Annan. He believed that both parties were to blame for what had occurred and encouraged them to make an agreement about sharing power. Many other influencial people agreed with Annan. The U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, pressured the Kenyan government to make decision quick so that the violence wouldn't progress. Prevention
The events that followed the 2007 election will serve as a lesson when Kenya approaches future elections. Partly the reason why people got away with the violence is because there is no law against police killing protestors whether they are peaceful or not. The Kenyan government will definately need to adjust some of its laws in order to prevent the deaths of future peaceful protestors. Kenya most likely also will be more tuned in to corruption of government as well as exaggerated media claims (two of the major causes for violence). Still governmental disputes in Kenya can always be linked back to the careless dividing of territory by imperial powers causing a nation to consist of rival tribal groups. Kenya still has a long way to go before the scars of colonialism heal, if ever.
Click this link to see a video about Condoleezza Rice's visit to Kenya:Interdependence
In many cases, problems that start out in one country end up becoming international problems. The violence that followed the Kenyan elections in 2007 are no exception. Once the news of the rigged votes and the mass killing after Mwai Kibaki's win spread around the world, the United Nations (UN) knew that they had to take action. One member of the UN, John Holmes traveled to Kenya to see first hand what was going on. He found more than 100,000 refugees misplaced because of the violence. The UN encouraged Kenya to select a panel of men to mediate a negotiation between the Party of National Unity (Kibaki) and the Orange Democratic Movement. Among men selected to be on the panel was former UN leader Kofi Annan. He believed that both parties were to blame for what had occurred and encouraged them to make an agreement about sharing power. Many other influencial people agreed with Annan. The U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, pressured the Kenyan government to make decision quick so that the violence wouldn't progress.
Prevention
The events that followed the 2007 election will serve as a lesson when Kenya approaches future elections. Partly the reason why people got away with the violence is because there is no law against police killing protestors whether they are peaceful or not. The Kenyan government will definately need to adjust some of its laws in order to prevent the deaths of future peaceful protestors. Kenya most likely also will be more tuned in to corruption of government as well as exaggerated media claims (two of the major causes for violence). Still governmental disputes in Kenya can always be linked back to the careless dividing of territory by imperial powers causing a nation to consist of rival tribal groups. Kenya still has a long way to go before the scars of colonialism heal, if ever.
Click this link to see a video about Condoleezza Rice's visit to Kenya:Interdependence