Kenyan Roulette...and Other Stuff (UPDATED: Kenyan MPs Banned from US)

Shocker: There are almost 12,000 Republicans who live in my district! I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have to wear a Scarlet 'R.' I took the neighbor mentioned in the last part of this post with me to the polling place. (Mr. Leo had a fall recently and must use a walker or a cane.) There was no poll station drama in contrast to some previous occasions. Good thing too--Mr. Leo would have defended my honor with his cane. The poll worker did, however, hand me a Democrat ballot without asking. But I don't demand perfection...well, not usually.

I did my part for Mitt Romney, but, unsurprisingly, John McCain prevailed. I’m glad that the professional and amateur conservative pundits are exercised about McCain’s general perfidy. I suppose that I would be also if I didn’t have other things on my mind.

One day after a goodly portion of this country helped to decide which two people will stand as the final candidates for POTUS, it’s good to contrast our mostly peaceful process against the type in which the result means more than the consistent process—one in which the axiom of “Any Means Necessary” to gain or preserve power means more than the lives and dignity of one’s countrymen.

On Kenya's President Kibaki:

Kenya emerged from its struggle for independence in the 1960s as a corrupt one-party state under Jomo Kenyatta. Daniel arap Moi prolonged that state of affairs after 1978. Under these rulers, Kenya became—to use the words of [Ghanaian economist] George Ayittey [quoted] in the recent book Making Poor Nations Rich—a “vampire state.” But then Kenya opted for a transition [in 2002 when Kibaki was first elected] that seemed to set it apart from much of the continent. Now when it looked as if Kenya was leaving behind its authoritarian politics, Kibaki, with a single stroke, has managed to make Kenya look no different than most corrupt and violent African states.

In doing so, the Kenyan ruler has followed the worst tradition of African politics of the last half-century.

On Kenya's ODM presidential candidate Odinga:

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.

And this:

Kenya's opposition has threatened street protests if a meeting of regional foreign ministers, chaired by the government, goes ahead while talks to end bloodshed in the country are under way.

Negotiations between the rival factions continued on Tuesday, as fresh violence claimed 12 more lives.

The opposition attacked plans to hold a meeting of foreign ministers from the seven-member east African regional bloc IGAD, chaired by Kenya saying it would "legitimise Kibaki's position through the back door".

The foreign ministers are due in Kenya on Wednesday, with talks due the next day.

"If the IGAD meeting goes on in spite of our call for it not to go on," said Anyang Nyongo, secretary-general of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), "we shall call upon Kenyans to come out in their big numbers for a peaceful demonstration in Nairobi to strongly protest."

The government has banned street protests, and earlier ones have led to looting, rioting and a crackdown by police.

(Side note: you'll note that this last link is from Al Jazeera. That organization has taken keen interest in what's going on in Kenya and, as a result, doing a top-notch job of reporting--at least on this subject. A sensible person--rather than an alarmist or an ignoramus--can give credit where due and estimate that, while the situation itself has nothing to do with Islamists on the march, Islamists very likely may be viewing a fallen Kenya as an opportunity. All those who are looking for the "hidden Muslim hand" guiding the turmoil in Kenya need to recognize that.)

Am I “lording it over” those who don’t have the benefit of a culture which values the rule of law? There’s no need to. Anyone who takes even the most cursory mental journey back into our own history is reminded of the many and sometimes bloody struggles that our forebears had to live through for us to enjoy the victories of process—rule of law--over results. (Oh yes and I know that this particular war is one that will never be won since eternal vigilance is the weapon that need be always at the ready.)

Aside from wanton killing and my personal considerations, the most frustrating things about yet another African country falling to chaos is to observe as its leaders behave in such a ridiculously short-sighted and callous manner and to observe as they fail to learn from they myriad examples of power-mania on their own continent much less those existing elsewhere.

I was listening to radio talk show host Mark Levin last week and, on the subject of McCain, he opined that “everyone is selling perception.” Well, everyone wouldn’t be selling it if it weren’t such a lucrative commodity—if no one were buying. In Kenya, the perception that the only way to change economic and societal issues is to murder one's neighbors and relatives and/or drive them out of their homes has been sold. And that perception has given birth to the perception that vengeance has some purpose other than feeding on itself; it has been sold as well. It's up to Kenya's "leaders" to become actual leaders--to make another perception seem more appealing than the old one and its progeny.

Either of the Kenyan leaders could reshape the perception of themselves—and their country--from that of the stereotypical Third World autocrat-kleptocrat to potential savior while saving some lives in the process. Either could look like the statesman who rose above his personal considerations and his pride for the good of his people. And since it is personal pride that both seem to care most about, either could play the hero in the eyes of their countrymen and in those of the world--by putting forth some sort of compromise that is crucial to the actual implementation of rule-of-law.

Mature strategic thinkers these two are not, however. So UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon must play the parent.

“I told Kenya’s leaders, President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, that they bear a particular political responsibility for the future of Kenya. I stressed to all the Kenyan leaders the need to stop the unacceptable violence and killings and to resolve their differences through dialogue and the democratic process,” Mr Ban told the Council, according to a statement from his office.

The UN chief said political leaders should think beyond their individual interests or party lines, and to look to the future of Kenya as one country. [SNIP]

He said the UN supported the mediation process championed by [Ban’s predecessor Kofi] Annan and announced that a trust fund had been established through the UN Development Programme to support it in addition to assigning several UN staff.

:::shrugs:::Ban may be talking sense, but since when do Third World “leaders” listen to the UN?

Here’s the rare bit of good news, though; indeed it does seem to be a result of the UN's intervention: the Kibaki government has lifted its ban on live broadcasts. Please read the op-ed which explain how the government was able to implement the ban in the first place.

Meanwhile, I have not heard from my father. But no worries; I remain hopeful.

UPDATE: From All Africa:

The East African Community is considering sending a peace-keeping force to Kenya as one of the options in case the situation deteriorates, reports Anne Mugisa.

"Currently, there are negotiations within the East African set-up. A decision has not yet been reached but negotiations are on," Fred Opolot of the Uganda Media Centre told journalists yesterday.

The East African Community, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, is made up of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya.

Rwanda and Burundi, eh? The irony is thick.

UPDATE: Whoa!

Ten MPs are among prominent people facing an imminent travel ban to the United States following the country’s post-election political crisis.

The US accuses these people of being behind the violence in which nearly 1,000 people have been killed and more than 350,000 others have been displaced.

And Wednesday, America’s northern neighbour, Canada, followed suit by stating that it would also write demand letters to the same individuals with a view to blocking them from stepping on its soil.

US ambassador Michael Ranneberger Wednesday confirmed the drastic step, stating his country “decided to apply our travel restrictions on individuals who we believe participated in the instigation of violence, violation of human rights and breaking of democratic practices”. [SNIP]

“The ban will affect their families — their children who are studying in the US and their spouses. The individuals will also be affected.”

Thirty more people, he added were being investigated.

Members of both the PNU (Kibaki's party) and the ODM (Odinga's party) are on the list.

The Kenya Crisis