Kenya's Newly Elected President Is Facing Accusations Of War Crimes

A man passes by posters of presidential candidates Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nairobi, March 8, 2013. Voice of America

Uhuru Kenyatta Wins Kenyan Election By Slimmest Margin -- The Guardian

Deputy prime minister, accused of crimes against humanity, narrowly wins presidency amid concerns about ballot.

Kenya's election commission announced early Saturday that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta had prevailed in the country's presidential elections by the slimmest of margins, winning 50.03% of the vote according to provisional figures.

Diplomats were worried they might have to weaken ties with the east African nation if Kenyatta is elected because he faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal court at The Hague. The result will almost certainly be challenged in the courts by his opponent, the prime minister Raila Odinga.

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More News On Kenya's Presidential Election

Kenya election: Uhuru Kenyatta 'wins vote count' -- BBC
Kenya final vote total: Kenyatta has 50.03 pct -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
Kenyatta wins Kenya's presidential race, figures show -- Reuters
Kenyatta Provisionally Wins Kenyan Election Pending Final Audit -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Uhuru Kenyatta elected Kenyan president: commission figures -- AFP
Reports: Kenyatta has slim majority in Kenya presidential election -- CNN

My Comment: The opposition is not going to be happy with this incredibly close vote count.

War Crimes Suspect Leads In Early Kenya Vote Count

War Crimes Suspect Leads Early Kenya Vote Tally -- New York Times

NAIROBI, Kenya — Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kenyan politician who has been charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity, was leading by a wide margin in the Kenya election on Tuesday, with nearly half the votes counted.

Mr. Kenyatta, who comes from one of the richest, most powerful families in Africa and has been accused of bankrolling death squads that killed women and children during the chaos of Kenya’s election five years ago, was leading 54 percent to 42 percent over the second-place candidate, Raila Odinga, Kenya’s prime minister.

But there was a wrinkle.

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More News On Kenya's Election

Live Updates: Kenya General Elections -- Voice of America
Kenya presidential candidate facing criminal charges takes election lead -- The Guardian
Uhuru Kenyatta leads in Kenyan election -- Washington Post
Kenya elections: Uhuru Kenyatta leads Raila Odinga -- BBC
Kenyatta Holds Lead in Kenya Presidential Vote -- Voice of America
Kenyatta takes early lead in tense Kenya vote count -- Global Post/AFP
What’s at stake in Kenya’s presidential election -- Washington Post editorial
High stakes in Kenya's critical election -- John Githongo, Special to CNN
Profiles of Kenya's presidential candidates -- BBC

Kenyans Go To The Polls

Vote Counting Begins After Crucial Election In Kenya -- CNN

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- Vote counting began here Monday after millions of voters stood in line to choose their next president in a tightly contested general election marred by isolated violence.

The Elections Commission said some polling stations would remain open late to accommodate those still in line and to make up for having opened late.

Residents were eager to avoid a repeat of the last election, in 2007, when the nation plunged into ethnic violence after results were disputed.

"We are excited; this has been a long time coming," said Mark Kamau, who lives in the capital of Nairobi. "We are ready to show the world that this is not the Kenya they saw in 2007."

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More News On Today's Kenyan Elections

Long Wait in Kenya Vote; 19 Dead in Mombasa -- Time/AP
Kenya election: Votes counted in crucial poll -- BBC
Massive Turnout for Kenya Elections -- Voice of America
Millions Vote in Crucial Kenyan Elections -- New York Times
Violence Shadows Kenyan Vote -- Wall Street Journal
Kenya vote-county starts; big turnout -- UPI
The scene at the Kenyan polls: Long waits and half-mile lines -- Washington Post
At least 15 killed on Kenya coast on election day -- Reuters
Machete-wielding gangs kill at least 15 as Kenyans vote -- NBC

Riots Continue For A Second Day In Kenya

Fighting Continues In Mombasa After Death Of Radical Islamist Preacher -- The Guardian

Grenade attack leaves seven injured as running battles continue for second day following death of Aboud Rogo Mohammed.

Police and protesters fought running battles as a violent backlash to the killing of a radical Islamic preacher carried into a second day in Kenya's second-largest city of Mombasa. The fighting has left several people hospitalised including seven injured in a grenade attack, police and human rights officials have said.

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More News On the Continuing Riots In Kenya

Kenya cleric killing: Grenade attack on Mombasa police -- BBC
Three killed in Kenya's Mombasa riots after cleric shot dead -- Reuters
Rioting in Kenyan Port of Mombasa Breaks Out for Second Day -- Bloomberg Businessweek
One dead after protesters throw grenade at police in Kenya, official says -- CNN
Mombasa riots stretch into second day as extremist group tries to rally Muslims -- Christian Science Monitor
Official: Kenya Police tear-gas youth protesting the killing of a radical Islamic preacher -- Washington Post/AP
Grenade kills policeman, wounds dozens as Kenya riots rage -- AFP
Kenyan rioters and police clash for second day -- Deutsche Welle
In pictures: Mombasa riots over Kenya cleric Rogo's death -- BBC

Riots In Kenya After 'al-Shabaab Backer' Shot Dead

Controversial cleric Aboud Rogo has been shot dead in a drive-by shooting. Rogo had been accused of of fundraising for al Shabaab activities, facilitating travel of youths from and into Somali, and equipping them with skills on how to avoid detection by the Kenyan police. Elkana Jacob/The Star

Riots In Kenya After 'al-Shabaab Backer' Shot Dead -- The Telegraph

Riots erupted in Kenya's main coast city on Monday after a radical Islamic preacher accused of arranging funding for Somalia's al-Shabaab militia was shot dead in his car.

At least one person was killed and two churches looted as a mob of more than two thousand people took to the streets of Mombasa to protest the killing of Aboud Rogo.

Unidentified gunmen killed him as he drove his wife to hospital early on Monday. He died instantly and his wife and child were reportedly wounded.

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More News On Riots In Kenya After 'al-Shabaab Backer' Shot Dead

Riots in Mombasa after killing of Muslim cleric -- Mail & Guardian
'Al-Shabab supporter' Aboud Rogo Mohammed killed in Kenya -- BBC
Islamic cleric facing terrorism charges killed in Kenya -- CNN
Mombasa Erupts In Riots After Radical Muslim Preacher Is Killed -- IBTimes
Kenyan cleric 'with al-Shabab links' killed -- Al Jazeera
Muslim cleric killed in Kenya -- Deutsche Welle

Dozens Killed In Land Clashes In Kenya

Kenya Clashes Kill At Least 48 In Coast Province -- BBC

At least 48 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in south-eastern Kenya, police say.

The clashes in Tana River district, Coast Province, took place late on Tuesday between the Orma and Pokomo groups, the region's police chief said.

Most of the dead were women and children, many of whom were hacked to death with machetes, he said.

The clash is the worst single incident since violence rocked the country after disputed polls four years ago.

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More News On Land Clashes In Kenya

Kenyan Land Clashes Leave 48 Dead -- Wall Street Journal/AP
52 killed in Kenya territory clash, officials say -- CNN
Dozens of Kenyans hacked, burnt to death -- The National/AFP
48 Killed in Kenyan Land Dispute -- Voice of America
Bloodbath: 62 people killed in ethnic massacre -- Standard Media
Ethnic massacre in Kenya dozens burned to death -- National Turk

International Criminal Court Names Suspects In Kenyan Election Chaos

In February 2008, men of the Kisii ethnic group sat among the burning rubble of a building in Chebilat, Kenya, in Rift Valley Province. Joao Silva for The New York Times

Kenya Reacts As ICC Names Suspects In Election Chaos -- Voice of America

On Wednesday, the International Criminal Court named six high-profile suspects it believes spearheaded the country's political chaos in 2007 and 2008. There is renewed hope for justice nearly three years later, but many, including some suspects, are surprised by the names included on the list.

ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo released a list of suspects he believes are most responsible for the bloody aftermath of Kenya's December 2007 presidential election.

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More News On The ICC Naming Those Responsible For kenya's Election Violence In 2007-2008

6 Prominent Kenyans Accused of Crimes Against Humanity -- Voice of America
Kenyan ministers named as suspects in vote violence -- Reuters
Kenya election violence: ICC names suspects -- BBC
Hague Prosecutor Pursues Kenyan Leaders -- Wall Street Journal
Kenyans’ Indictment Is Sought in Vote Violence -- New York Times
The six men accused of inciting Kenya's post-election violence -- Christian Science Monitor
Kenya election violence: profiles of the ICC suspects -- The Guardian
Prosecutor: Top Kenya Officials Are War Criminals -- AOL News
Threat to Kenya's ICC witnesses: Traitors will be dealt with 'ruthlessly' -- Christian Science Monitor
Election violence suspects: Kenyans react -- BBC
Next steps for six named to face trial in Hague over chaos -- Daily Nation (Kenya)
Why ICC trial of six prominent Kenyans would be a first -- Christian Science Monitor
Will ICC bring justice or violence to Kenya? -- BBC
Who was to blame? -- The Economist

My Comment: Kudos to the ICC for naming names. 1,200+ people died in this election violence, and someone has to be made accountable. Unfortunately, the Kenyan government has no motivation to bring these criminals .... some within their own government .... to justice.

Preliminary Results Indicate A Yes Vote For Kenya's New Constitution

Kenyans waited to vote on a constitutional referendum in Kibera, a shantytown in Nairobi, on Wednesday. Jehad Nga for The New York Times

Kenyans Approved New Constitution In Referendum, Early Results Indicate -- Bloomberg

Kenyans probably approved a new constitution in a referendum today, according to initial results from the country’s Interim Independent Electoral Commission.

The constitution was accepted by almost 3 million voters, or 66 percent of 4.5 million votes that have been counted, according to initial commission data broadcast by NTV, an independent television station based in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. The country has about 12.7 million registered voters.

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More News On Kenya's Referendum For A New Constitution

New Constitution Nears Approval in Kenya -- New York Times
Kenya sees big turnout in vote on new constitution -- Washington Post
Kenya sees big turnout in vote on new constitution -- AP
Voting in Kenya's referendum closes as tallying begins -- Xinhuanet
Yes reaches 4m mark in Kenya vote -- Capital FM
Kenyans Vote in Referendum on Constitution Aimed at Ending Ethnic Conflict -- Bloomberg

Fears Of More Violence As Kenya Prepares To Vote In A Referendum On Its Constitution

Vote On Constitution Set To Challenge Kenya's 'Poisoned' Tribal Politics -- The Independent

A long-awaited referendum has split the church and civil society in Nairobi over a system critics say is in urgent need of reform.

Kenya is back at the crossroads. That is the warning emanating from the pulpits of its church leaders, fretted over by academics, and fought over by its politicians and commentators.

For the first time since the violence that devastated the country in the wake of a flawed election in 2007, leaving more than 1,000 people dead, East Africa's biggest economy faces a major democratic test.

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My Comment: What can I say, but African tribalism and religious animosities on full display.

ICC To Investigate Violence After 2007 Kenya Election

ICC To Investigate Kenya Election Violence. Will Leaders Cooperate? -- Christian Science Monitor

The International Criminal Court has told Luis Moreno Ocampo to investigate the role of senior politicians in 2008 Kenya election violence. But some are already suspected of working to undermine the ICC.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, has given its prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo the green light to investigate the role of senior politicians in Kenya's post-election violence that killed 1,300 Kenyans in 2008.

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More News On The ICC Investigation Of The 2008 Kenyan Election Violence

Crimes against humanity inquiry over Kenyan election killings -- Times Online
International criminal court to investigate violence after 2007 Kenya election -- The Guardian
Court Authorizes Inquiry of Kenyans -- New York Times
Hague court prosecutor to investigate Kenya violence -- Washington Post
Kenya’s Rights Activist Proud of Roll Leading to ICC Investigation of Post- Election Violence -- Voice of America
Ruling means Kenyan leaders could face charges -- CNN
ICC judges order Ocampo to probe Kenya poll chaos -- Daily Nation
Why Hague judges chose to probe -- Daily Nation

My Comment: 1,300 people were murdered. Hundreds of thousands had to flee their homes.

Someone has to be made accountable for these crimes.

Crisis In Kenya Averted ..... For Now

It took a phone call between Nairobi and Tokyo for coalition principals President Mwai Kibaki (left) and Prime Minister Odinga to set up a meeting and also ask their loyalists to halt the warlike rhetoric. Photo/FILE

Peace In Kenya Hangs In Balance As Leaders Feud -- Washington Post

NAIROBI, Kenya -- A public feud between Kenya's prime minister and president, whose agreement two years ago to share power ended the country's worst violence since independence, has many of their compatriots worried that the bloodshed could resume if efforts by the U.S. and African powers fail to cool tensions.

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More News On The Turmoil In Kenya

Kibaki, Raila ceasefire -- Daily Nation
No Kenya crisis, says President Mwai Kibaki -- BBC
Kenya president, PM to hold talks over row: adviser -- Reuters
Kofi Annan intervenes in Kenya dispute -- Financial Times
What Kenyans want -- Daily Nation editorial

Kenya Facing A Political Meltdown And Fears Of A Return To Ethnic/Tribal Violence

Kibaki (R) greets Odinga in Nairobi in March 2008. Photo from The Daily Monitor

Kenya Political Crisis: Kofi Annan To The Rescue – Again? -- Christian Science Monitor

A corruption scandal threatens to tear apart the fragile coalition government, prompting fear of a return of the ethnic violence that killed 1,300 and displaced hundreds of thousands after the disputed elections of Dec. 2007.

Johannesburg, South Africa. Kenya’s fractious government is facing its biggest challenge, as its two top leaders – President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga – face off in a corruption scandal.

At issue is the simple question of who is in charge, and whether the shaky bickering coalition government will hold together long enough to pass a new Constitution that will make such political crises a thing of the past. If the government falls apart, the consequences could be severe, including a return of the ethnic violence that killed 1,300 and displaced hundreds of thousands after the elections of December 2007.

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More News On The Turmoil In Kenya

Kenya faces political 'meltdown' -- BBC
Odinga seeks help over power struggle -- Financial Times
Kenyan President, PM spat deepens -- Capital FM
Kenya crisis: Kibaki, Odinga in power struggle -- Daily Monitor
Tension up in Kenya: President-premier in conflict -- AP
Auditor: Kenya lost millions in corrupt food deals -- Las Vegas Sun

Kenyans Fear A Return To Tribal And Political Violence

Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan (left) meets President Kibaki (centre) and Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the capital Nairobi on Monday. PHOTO/ REUTERS

Annan Warns Kenyans of Danger -- New York Times

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kofi Annan delivered a stern message to Kenya on Wednesday, saying that there was a “crisis in confidence” in the political leadership and that the country was flirting with disaster by delaying much-needed reforms.

Concluding a three-day assessment of where Kenya stands a year and a half after its bloody election period, Mr. Annan seemed grave, urgent and a bit discouraged, but not hopeless.

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More News On Kenya

Annan backs Kenya riot tribunals -- BBC
'Serious risk' of fresh Kenya unrest if no reforms: Annan -- AFP
Kenya's pace of reforms wanting, says Annan -- KBC
Annan: Kenya postelection violence tribunal needed -- AP
Annan winds up Kenya visit -- Daily Nation

The Spread Of Islamic Extremism In Africa

A street in Eastleigh, the Somali quarter of Nairobi. (Rick Wayne photo)

How Kenya's 'Little Mogadishu' Became A Hub For Somali Militants -- Christian Science Monitor

The Somali enclave of Eastleigh in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is now a recruiting and financial center for hardline Islamists fighting in neighboring Somalia.

Eastleigh, Kenya - The streets of Eastleigh, a Somali enclave of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, are crowded and dirty. Sewage and rotting garbage flow through gullies. Police are virtually nonexistent; restaurants are locked, even when open, for safety reasons; and guns are readily available for sale at the market.

No one ever said "Little Mogadishu" was paradise, but now the sprawling neighborhood has become a hub of financing and recruiting for militant Islamists waging holy war in neighboring Somalia, according to residents, security analysts, and diplomats.

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My Comment: These extremists fled the country that they put into a mess .... and now these same extremists are going out of their way to disrupt the country that accepted them from the hell that they themselves created.

Kenya Army Denies Sudan Link Claims

From Capital News:

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 16 - The Military on Monday denied reports that some of the tanks off-loaded from MV Faina that were spotted in Kapenguria, were headed for Southern Sudan.

Military Spokesman Bogita Ongeri told Capital News that three of the tanks seen there were headed for a battalion exercise in the North Rift and not Southern Sudan as alleged.

Residents in the North Rift region and other numerous sources had reported seeing the controversial tanks aboard trains and suggested that they were headed for the neighbouring country.

“There are only three tanks and they are headed for a battalion exercise in the North Rift. Not Southern Sudan. Those are rumours,” he told Capital News on telephone.

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My Comment: We will never know the true story until a year or two from now .... and even then.

Tensions Threaten Kenya's Fragile Coalition Government

Kenyan Army soldiers remove stones blocking the road in the town of Naivasha. Peter Andrew/Reuters January 2008 (Photo from the New York Times)

From Voice Of America:

Kenya's fragile eight-month-old coalition government is in deep crisis amid accusations that President Mwai Kibaki is trying to sideline and undermine the authority of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Months of tension between the two leaders peaked last Friday after Mr. Kibaki signed a controversial media bill into law despite opposition from the prime minister.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga is said to be in crisis talks with key leaders in his Orange Democratic Movement political party to assess whether he and the ODM, as the party is widely known, are being deliberately sidelined by President Kibaki and his Party of National Unity or PNU.

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