The Cure

Briefly from yesterday:
* ODM was planning to have a rally in Uhuru Park in the afternoon
* protesters were getting together in different parts of Nairobi: Thika Road, Hurlingham, etc.
* due to heavy security presence ODM has decided to cancel the rally to Friday
* meanwhile protesters in Nairobi burnt down a petrol station in Hurlingham and caused many other losses on the streets
* some towns in Western Kenya are becoming calm and normal
* Desmond Tutu (Anglican Archbishop from SA) had a meeting with ODM leaders
* President Kibaki had a press-conference (first time since the violence began)

So no peace for us in Nairobi yesterday. And most probably no peace today...

People are getting tired of all the violence and bottles. Citizens are disappointed in their political leaders, they just want peace by now.

We need to find solutions. There's no other way around by now. Some options and comments:
from http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/

The Government’s plan for containing the violence which has hit parts of the country following the disputed presidential elections became clearer Thursday with President Kibaki announcing he was ready for dialogue, and Attorney-General Amos Wako hinting at a formula for power-sharing.
President Kibaki said he was ready for dialogue as soon as “the violence stops and calm is restored for people to engage in constructive and productive talks.”
On his part, ODM leader Raila Odinga supported calls for dialogue. Mr Odinga made the remarks when he met South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu who arrived in Nairobi Thursday.
Mr Wako suggested that a way out can be found even without going to court. One of the ways to resolve the dispute, the AG said, is for a government of national unity to be formed.
Alternatively, an independent group agreeable to all sides could verify the presidential tallies, he said.
...
Archbishop Tutu held a two hour meeting with Mr Odinga and later said he was still trying to secure an appointment from President Kibaki’s side.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, EU Foreign chief Javier Solana and American Democratic Party presidential hopeful Barack Obama whose father was Kenyan, called for dialogue among the rival camps.
...
Meanwhile, the donor community asked Kenyan leaders to put aside their differences and re-solve the impasse. They said business had estimated that about Sh2 million per day was being lost.
In a joint statement World Bank, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, France, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States warned that the gains made by Kenya in the last few years could dissipate due to the on-going destruction.
“At stake is the pre-election Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of seven percent, rising business confidence, increasing tourism, measurable progress in firm level productivity, significant gains in democratic development and the lifting of over two million Kenyans out of poverty over the last few years,” said the statement.

Me I'm still ok. Just tired of telling people so - the news that my family and friends see all over the world are much worse (and basically telling different information) than what is really happening here.

I have been thinking about the impact of AIESEC in Kenya recently. If not more than that, at least we have 450 active members and a few hundred alumni who are not willing to kill each other. Who can work together happily, whatever tribes they are coming from. That is a good start. I just wish some of our politicians were AIESECers as well...