I put my finger on it today - Kenya is a country in a state of emotional depression. Naivasha really made me think. It’s a mess up there; people are in shock. There are two new large refugee camps that are a result of the turmoil. The numbers for the death toll and people displaced are a blatant lie in the media. I have heard first hand that the death toll could be as high as 10,000, not 1,400 as stated in the press.
NO one knows what their neighbors are thinking anymore. Luos and Kikuyus who have lived side by side in harmony now turn on each other. There are gangs of bandits called Mungiki that roam the countryside disrupting the peace and killing targeted people. These guys are either drunk or on drugs and seem to have no conscience. In Naivasha there is an army presence and police everywhere stopping all cars and trucks searching for the troublemakers.
Anyway, Kenya is a country in depression and not healing. There is much denial that nothing is wrong coming from the upper class, as their paychecks have not been disrupted. Most are not so privileged and are out of work. There are truly no outside people coming in - hotels are closed or closing. Most of all the future is gloomy as the leaders continue to play games and not get along.
I was telling one of our female suppliers how I saw things today and she started to cry. I think they can’t verbalize depression but if you suggest emotional trauma and lack of routine and everyday life everyone really gets it.
Written from Bamako, Mali on November 9, 2007:
All commerce takes place at one time and in one place in Bamako. Check out the Grande Marche de Mali. Anything you can imagine is bought and sold right here. Get ready, as it’s not always pleasant.
A person skinning a freshly killed crocodile started out my day. Right next to this lovely booth was an impromptu pharmacy where you can buy anything in 1’s. For example: all Tylenol bottles have been opened and dumped into a kind of clear pasta container. If you have a headache you can purchase only one new or antique Tylenol pill. Next to that stall was a man choosing fabric for his next grouping of lovely adorned clothing, while next door a chicken was having his neck wrung. NO worries, though, as this is kind of standard for the market.
Next to those booths was the beauty parlor where I found numerous women intently braiding one another’s hair. This was not a friendly gathering but a very professional atmosphere…next to them was a person selling mattresses that have crazy patterns on them and a man accosting me to buy a sack that said Paris on it that I didn’t need.
There is so much life and color in this market. Its insanely busy, crowded and everyone invades your personal space. Don’t go if you are claustrophobic or have smell issues! Just when I thought an aisle couldn’t hold one more person, a motorcycle would roar up and somehow makes its way through a crowd that one couldn’t navigate on foot.
Here’s an excerpt of what is going on first hand from a friend in Kenya:
The situation is not great but I think portrayed badly in the press. The issues for the unrest are complicated and probably linked to:
a) History - i.e. Ralia Odinga’s father was almost given the driving seat at independence and robbed of it
b) Political stands - Raila and ODM are deemed to be more socialist; Kibaki and the old boys are more conservative
c) Corruption in the past - many of those involved in scandulous events I think are being protected by Kibaki i.e. from those involved in the Goldenberg case etc
d) A very close run election - which was probably rigged hence youth violence
What next - hopefully discussion between Ralia and Kibaki; an interim goverment led by Kibaki and a re-run presidential election in 3 months time, which would be managed by an independent team.
There is too much to lose for ALL of us Kenyans - even Ralia and Kibaki - so something has to be sorted! The economy and Kenyan’s have suffered and up to 300 unfairly lost their lives. There have been fuel and food
shortages but it is not that bad yet. I believe in Kenyans and the ability to become stronger in all of this - but I hope action will happen sooner rather than later.