Kenya in Crisis

Thousands of refugees are camped at Jamhuri Park on the edge of the burned-out Kibera slum that, until a few weeks ago, they called home. Ramshackle dwellings and once-bustling kiosk businesses strewn amidst mud paths have been reduced to smoldering ruins. Neighbors who have watched their kids grow up together can no longer co-exist due to tribal animosities that have flared since Kenya’s rigged election a few weeks ago. The political “Big Men” who continue to fight for the presidency have yet to meet to discuss a resolution, instead posturing as their displaced supporters grow hungry and tired. Diplomatic bigwigs from America, Europe, and the African Union have all come and gone, with no agreement to the stand-off.

All the while, just a couple of kilometers away stands a gleaming Nakumatt supermarket serving it’s wealthy Kenyan and expat customers so they can keep their well-secured homes fully stocked in case the protests begin afresh and violence shuts down the city again.

We went to work this week. Our offices bustling with activity, seemingly normal. Yet, the business and aid work is changing fast. USAID announced that all new development projects in Kenya have been halted and that its officials are not allowed to meet with government officials without explicit approval from the Ambassador. The Europeans are doing the same. Development work is yielding to humanitarian assistance. What was, until recently, an economy humming with new investment is quickly grinding to a halt. Tourism, a one billion dollar a year sector, has slowed to a trickle, and tea and coffee producers are unable to deliver their products to the international market.

Yet, our privileged and protected lives are, bizarrely, quite normal. Had dinner a couple of nights ago at a new Brazilian churrascaria, then drinks at a popular bar across the street. Ran into a friend with whom we discussed the current state of affairs. Had a few drinks amidst booming music and dancing, and then went home. Our lives feel decadent in relation to what is happening throughout the country. It also feels increasingly pointless to be planning a new biofuels industry in a place with a barely-functioning government. Until this situation is resolved, no one will be seriously thinking of investing in a biodiesel plant or implementing regulations for blending biofuels. There are much more urgent issues now. People need food, water, and shelter. Raized homes, schools and churches need to be rebuilt. But before the rebuilding can begin, the fighting must stop and neighbors must forgive neighbors.

This week may determine a lot. On Tuesday, the new Parliament will be sworn in. The opposition party, ODM (Orange Democratic Movement), which won a huge number of seats from the President’s party, PNU (Party of National Unity), is planning to stage protests by blocking PNU members from access to the chamber. ODM has also called for nation-wide protests on Wednesday through Friday. In the latest diplomatic peace effort, Kofi Annan is flying in on Tuesday in an attempt to broker the peace. Maybe his star power will brighten the situation and lead to reconciliation.