2008 Woodie Awards
More than 800 dead as tribal tensions escalate in Kenya
Deena Zaru
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: World
"Kenyans were waiting for this war," said sophomore Muhanji Afanda, a Kenyan native. "We knew this war was coming. It was just a matter of when and who was to start it. What started out as a political war between Kibaki and Raila became a tribal war after the election."
Sporadic violence and protests broke out in Kenya upon the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki, who defeated Raila Odinga in a rigged election.
"I heard my dad crying and I had never heard him cry before," Afanda said. "When a man cries in Kenya, you know things are bad. He asked God what did we ever do to deserve this, and if we did do something, he asked God if there is another form of punishment besides this."
Afanda visited his home during winter break, excited for the elections, yet returned to Greensboro a month later, leaving his father and a troubled Kenya behind.
"Now that I am away from Kenya it feels like being stabbed in the back," Afanda said. "I feel helpless because Kenyans are suffering and I am far away from them."
First-year Gilian M'maitsi left her parents, two brothers and a sister in Kenya to study at Guilford. Her parents live on a farm in the countryside.
"I feel like I should be there suffering with my fellow Kenyans," M'maitsi said. "I feel very helpless knowing that many Kenyans have no food, no homes and have nowhere to sleep for the night … and that someone you grew up with, played with, went to the same school with and even lived next door to each other, can turn against you and kill you."
Junior Martha Assefa, who has lived in Kenya since age four, also visited her home during winter break.
"My family and I purposely took a vacation to get away, because we know that elections in Kenya are crazy," Assefa said. "Once the fighting started, our status turned into exile because the U.N. wasn't allowing people to go back. When we were finally allowed to go back, it was a week of quarantine."
According to Assefa, the popular support for Odinga's party was evident before the elections.
Sporadic violence and protests broke out in Kenya upon the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki, who defeated Raila Odinga in a rigged election.
"I heard my dad crying and I had never heard him cry before," Afanda said. "When a man cries in Kenya, you know things are bad. He asked God what did we ever do to deserve this, and if we did do something, he asked God if there is another form of punishment besides this."
Afanda visited his home during winter break, excited for the elections, yet returned to Greensboro a month later, leaving his father and a troubled Kenya behind.
"Now that I am away from Kenya it feels like being stabbed in the back," Afanda said. "I feel helpless because Kenyans are suffering and I am far away from them."
First-year Gilian M'maitsi left her parents, two brothers and a sister in Kenya to study at Guilford. Her parents live on a farm in the countryside.
"I feel like I should be there suffering with my fellow Kenyans," M'maitsi said. "I feel very helpless knowing that many Kenyans have no food, no homes and have nowhere to sleep for the night … and that someone you grew up with, played with, went to the same school with and even lived next door to each other, can turn against you and kill you."
Junior Martha Assefa, who has lived in Kenya since age four, also visited her home during winter break.
"My family and I purposely took a vacation to get away, because we know that elections in Kenya are crazy," Assefa said. "Once the fighting started, our status turned into exile because the U.N. wasn't allowing people to go back. When we were finally allowed to go back, it was a week of quarantine."
According to Assefa, the popular support for Odinga's party was evident before the elections.
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