2008 Woodie Awards
More than 800 dead as tribal tensions escalate in Kenya
Deena Zaru
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: World
"People were really excited before the elections because they were ready for change," Assefa said. "They were wearing orange in the streets to represent the democratic movement for Raila."
Afanda said Odinga was also an attractive candidate because "he has a family made up of different tribes, so that attracted different people."
Assefa said Odinga's party was for the people, while Kibaki's party served the elite.
"Some of the people's aspirations were that Raila's party would redistribute the wealth of the country," Assefa said. "They hoped that even people who are at the bottom of the social structure would start receiving basic amenities, and that the people who were corrupt will be caught."
Yet, Kibaki's rigged re-election shattered Kenyans' hope for a new year of change.
According to The Daily Nation, a Nairobi-based newspaper, over 800 Kenyans have already lost their lives, while about 255,000 people have been displaced from their homes as a result of this tribal war.
"The tribal war in Kenya has shocked most Kenyans more than it did the rest of the world," said Emily M'maitsi, Gilian M'maitsi's mother, in an e-mail interview. "I am sad, disillusioned and feel cheated by the very people who promised to protect us but have turned against the people after they got what they wanted. I feel like I am dreaming, because I never envisioned this happening to Kenya."
Afanda's father, John Muhanji, who is currently in Kenya serving as the Friends United Meeting's (FUM) African Ministries representative, expected this war, but " I never thought it would go this far. It has taken a different dimension all together," Muhanji said in an e-mail interview.
According to Muhanji, the tribal conflicts in Kenya, which is made up of 42 different tribes, each with their own language, started during the British colonization in early 1900.
Muhanji said that the British colony came in and took control of the most productive land, leaving the indigenous people with land not fit for farming
Afanda said Odinga was also an attractive candidate because "he has a family made up of different tribes, so that attracted different people."
Assefa said Odinga's party was for the people, while Kibaki's party served the elite.
"Some of the people's aspirations were that Raila's party would redistribute the wealth of the country," Assefa said. "They hoped that even people who are at the bottom of the social structure would start receiving basic amenities, and that the people who were corrupt will be caught."
Yet, Kibaki's rigged re-election shattered Kenyans' hope for a new year of change.
According to The Daily Nation, a Nairobi-based newspaper, over 800 Kenyans have already lost their lives, while about 255,000 people have been displaced from their homes as a result of this tribal war.
"The tribal war in Kenya has shocked most Kenyans more than it did the rest of the world," said Emily M'maitsi, Gilian M'maitsi's mother, in an e-mail interview. "I am sad, disillusioned and feel cheated by the very people who promised to protect us but have turned against the people after they got what they wanted. I feel like I am dreaming, because I never envisioned this happening to Kenya."
Afanda's father, John Muhanji, who is currently in Kenya serving as the Friends United Meeting's (FUM) African Ministries representative, expected this war, but " I never thought it would go this far. It has taken a different dimension all together," Muhanji said in an e-mail interview.
According to Muhanji, the tribal conflicts in Kenya, which is made up of 42 different tribes, each with their own language, started during the British colonization in early 1900.
Muhanji said that the British colony came in and took control of the most productive land, leaving the indigenous people with land not fit for farming
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