By Scott A Morgan
For Nearly a Month Kenya has convulsed with violence after a Highly Controversial Election that erupted into an orgy of violence. Since the 27th of December over 500 people have perished in the violence that has erupted along Tribal Lines and roughly a Quarter of a Million People have been driven from their homes. It has tarnished the Image of a Country that was considered to be a Stable Democratic State in an unstable part of Africa.
In several ways the Stablilty of Kenya is very crucial to East Africa. First of all it has a common border with what has been a flashpoint for some time now that being Somalia. For a Year now Somali Insurgents have battled a weak Transitional Government and its main backer neighboring Ethiopia. In the past the Muslim Inhabitants of Northeastern Kenya have been leery of US Activities in the Horn of Africa. US Planes and Ships did in fact support Ethiopian Forces as they entered Somalia.
Now the United States has been a ally of Kenya for decades now. Several US Administrations have had excellent relations with Nairobi. Whether its been President Arap Moi or Kibaki the US has felt that it has a friend in Africa. For Years the US Navy has used Mombasa at a Port of Call. The Naval Efforts in the failed UN Mission in the 1990s were based in that port city as well. and last year Kenyan troops sealed off the border with Somalia to prevent the Islamists from Crossing the border in an attempt to flee advancing Ethiopian Forces.
Since the Election the United States has had to change its statements at least once when it comes to the Elections. After Initially Congratulating President Kibaki Washington then had to backtrack after the violence broke out. The US Embassy sent over 200 observers to monitor the elections and they were among the throng that criticized the Elections. Now there is word that the International Republican Institute (IRI) A body which recieves its funding from Congress will not release its polling data regarding Kenya until a later date. TO this date the IRI has not stated who it feels actually won the Presidency on December 27th.
Another Factor that has not been reported in the US Mainstream Media but has generatied a lot of Interest is the role being played by a Rising US Political Star. This man is a Presidential Candidate as well and he has close ties to Kenya. Of course im talking about Senator Barack Obama from Illinois. We all have heard about how his father was from Kenya. What has not been revealed is that his Father is from the Same Tribe as the losing Candidate Mr. Odinga. While the Good Senator was Campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire the Candidate was calling to Kenya seeking a peaceful resolution to the Crisis. Also the Undersecretary of State for Africa Ms Frazier has been in the region trying to broker a peaceful Solution as well.
There is another sublte way for the US to restore order. It could have Uganda do it by Proxy. In more than one instance America has given Uganda a Proverbial Green Light to deal with the Militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has also praised Kampala for being one of the first nations to support the African Union Mission in Somalia. Uganda offered to Guard Fuel Convoys travelling through Kenya on their way to Uganda to keep them Safe. The Kibaki Government Refused stating that they weren’t needed. there are reports of Ugandan Militia in the City of Kikuyu, This report has not been confirmed by authorities in Kampala or Nairobi. One thing is for certain however. The longer Kenya remains unstable the greater the potential Economic Danger for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
From all Accounts a Stable Kenya means a stable region of East Africa. Stablility in Kenya is beneficial to US Interests. So What will the Administration do to ensure this?
The Author is an Editor for the American Chronicle and the Confused Eagle (morganrights.tripod.com) he can be contacted at [email protected]