What we are seeing in Kenya today is by no means a new phenomenon in Africa. Politicians using ethnic divisions to bolster their selfish causes at the expense of stability and human lives is a practice that, unfortunately, is too often adopted. Democracy will eventually mature in Africa, but the priority has to be economic betterment. Only when people's lives are economically improved will we begin to see a more mature adoption and practice of democratic principles. I shared some more in-depth views about what we are seeing in Kenya, and by extension how it relates to past and future turmoil in most of Sub-Saharan Africa on my blog, which I invite you to read: www.wisecanvas.com

Thanks!
WiseCanvas
www.wisecanvas.com

Can you say "presidential"?

Oh sure, everyone in Kenya is going to lay down his machete and AK-47 now that Obama has called for an end to the massacres. Maybe he has an idea for another approach, like a realistic plan?
Just what we need, another Jimmy Carter.

Kenegra,
Do you have a better solution?

Um, what he said...

"Kenegra", you are SOOO cynical.

I for one am sure that the magic of Barack H. Obama's voice will cause the warring Kenyan tribes to stop fighting--just as the magic if his voice will cause the Islamic terrorists to give up guns and take up golf....

If Ondinga and ODM want what is best for the country they will call off their supported from the violence and destruction. These people that have caused the chaos can't even feed themselves and they are now destroying our economy. Even more disheartening; It's obvious that this is destroying our country.....and launching it into tribal trenches that we will not be able to dig ourselves out of. I am still in shock that the world is just watching as these hooligans kill the women and children or kenya and no one is stepping up to stop the madness. As a KIKUYU, I play to GOD that Ondinga never gains power in that country because I believe that he has foreshadowed what he will do to the Kikuyus once he has the say so. PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS BE ANOTHER RWANDA OR SUDAN WHILE WE ALL WATCH.

At least Obama has let his opinion be known, he is one man, but in conjunction with the efforts of another, hopefully this atrocity can be hindered.

Bruce & Kenegra-

Which of the two Republican foreign policy solutions do you think we should use?

1. Ignore the whole thing?

or

2. Bomb some darker skinned people (doesn't matter which)?

It is quite overdue for Obama to speak up about the horrific situation in Kenya. But what he needs to be doing is not soft PR pieces like this, but the actual work that is expected of a PRESIDENTIAL candidate, which means calling and talking to Kibaki and Odinga and taking a more active role to curb the violence. Unless he has done this already, then his statement to the Kenyan people is anemic and provides little help. Mr. Obama is extremely popular in Kenya, and for the most part his popularity cuts across ethnic lines, it is time that he acted like the President he claims to be and SHOW the leadership he so fondly speaks about. In parts of Kenya comparisons are already being made to Rwanda, we cannot wait and those in power will be judged by the lives they did or did not save, and by their bold leadership or their callous indifference.

As an African American my heart breaks when I see this savagery of my African brothers and sisters.

Obama has done what he needs to do. Call on the leaders, with a sense of objectivity, clarity and justice. His work is not to mediate tribal leaders but to nurture democratic values for all Kenyans.

Go OBAMA

John says "it is time that he acted like the President he claims to be"

I have news for you John. He's not the President. Yet.

By the way, where has our current President been on this?

mr obama, the most we have in common is ancestry, other than that you are more ignorant about kenya than any of this people i hear around me. in anycase, it took you more than 30 years to know were your father was burried, so spare us this gabbage please!

The comments on this are disgusting. The people of Kenya are in a tragic and horrible situation. It is natural that with Obama's current status and his popularity in Kenya that he would do whatever he can from his current position to try to difuse the situation.
I have a coworker that is caught in the middle of this, and I am extremely grateful that Senator Obama managed to coordinate this at what is probably the most stressful time of his entire life.
God Bless you Senator Obama.

I thought the U.N. took care of that Kenyan thing years ago.

Paulo

Those commenting that Obama should take an active role: that's actually a potentially disastrous power grab that I'm sure he won't pull. No senator, not even one running for president, has the power to do *much* unless the president dispatches him/her.

Until he's president, this is for the president and, more specifically, the state department to handle.

God, I can't wait till he is president.

Yes - Barack Obama is sounding very Presidential in his plea to the leaders of Kenya. Also notable is that no other candidate running for president, it seems, has reached out or understands Kenya or Africe to the degree that Barack Obama does. By the way, the statement about 30 years to find the grave of his father is totally false and a horrible, cheap shot.

I spent Christmas 2005 reading Barack Obama's first book, Dreams from my Father, and Christmas 2006 reading his second book, The Audacity of Hope. I have also seen him speak and shaken his hand. As a person who feels like an informed citizen, I can honestly say, Barack Obama would make a better President than anyone running and we would be so
blessed to have him as our President. I hope people across America wake up and realize that we have a rare opportunity to have an inspiring, decent leader in the White House, one who can unite this country and show the world, once again that we are a great nation which can work with other nations to solve the problems of the world. God bless Barack Obama, his Family, and his Team!
Regards, William F. Slater, III - http://www.billslater.com/who_is_barack_obama.htm

To square off a few comments:

1. Yes, this is the job of the UN. Unfortunately the UN Security Council, who has the overriding power on such matters, is a bureaucratic institution that is at the mercy of the individual states that it is comprised of, namely: the US, Russia, China, France and the UK (the five permanent security council members), among others. In short, the UN is slow to react and usually ineffective in such matters (see Darfur).

2. Yes, this is a job for the President, President Bush that is. However, the Bush Administration has clear sympathies for incumbent Kibaki due to fact that the Kibaki government has been a key ally on US-led anti-terrorism efforts along the coast of Kenya, and also an ally during the US-supported invasion of Somalia a year ago by Ethiopia; during which Kenya closed off of its border and refused entry of Somali refugees trying to flee the violence, which included at least one US air strike in southern Somalia killing 31 people, most of whom were civilians. Additionally, the US State Department was quick to support President Kibaki on his latest "victory," even though EVERYONE knew the election was a shame. Realizing its mistake the State Department has since retracted its initial support and is now promoting that the situation be resolved through "constitutional and legal remedies." These “remedies” are blatantly weighted in the incumbent's favor and thus will merely support the status quo: Kibaki. In short, the Bush administration has little credibility to be a neutral force for peace in this situation, but be that as it may I still do call on President Bush, the State Department, the Pentagon, etc. to do everything in their power to be positive forces for peace and reconciliation. Despite what may have been wished for by the “powers that be”, the current election outcome is bad for everyone; bad for US national security concerns and especially bad for all Kenyans.

3. No, Mr. Obama is not President, BUT Mr. Obama has made repeated claims during his campaign speeches that he will be the next President, whether in jest or not. As such, I am merely requesting that he starts acting that role and that he does everything in his power to help bring peace to Kenya and to bring justice. He, perhaps more than anyone else outside of the Bush Administration, has the potential to help in this regard.

I am praying for all Kenyans, and I am praying for strong leadership on all sides to resolve this awful situation.

Ongongo,

At least Obama cares enough to say SOMETHING...the sitting president hasn't said anything...maybe it's because he has too much in common with Kibaki???

I am from Africa south of Kenya, a neighbour. The Obama statement has hit the right tune. It is not time to demonise either side, because the election was very close than the 2000 Bush-Gore debacle. There was no clear winner which therefore needed a very transparent counting and talling of votes. Therefore the current mess can only be solved through negotiation of the two warying parties. That would bring end the violence and can formulate a way forward. I myself don't think recount will work, some ballots might have been destroyed now, but probably sharing of power can be a temporal solution before a fresh election. Well done Mr. President Obama. A very good start.

John said: "It is quite overdue for Obama to speak up about the horrific situation in Kenya."

How is it overdue? The situation in Kenya only started yesterday, while he was out and about in Iowa giving speeches. I'd be willing to bet that he didn't even find out about what happened until he got home that night, simply because he didn't have an opportunity to learn about it until then.

The answer is obvious. If elected Obama will send Rodney King as ambassador to Kenya. "Hey ... can't we all just get along?" Yep ... that will work.
As usual ... Obama's answers lie in empty, feel good rhetoric.

Ian said: "How is it overdue? The situation in Kenya only started yesterday, while he (Obama) was out and about in Iowa giving speeches."

Unfortunately Ian, the violence has actually been going on since Sunday when the fabricated voting results were announced in Kenya, and given that Kenya is 8 hours ahead of us that means since late Saturday night our time in the US. So, in my view waiting over 3 days to say something, anything, is quite overdue. While I greatly appreciate that Obama has come out and called for peace, and wish more candidates would follow as was done after the recent events in Pakistan, given Obama's unique influence in Kenya I still encourage Obama in particular to do everything in his power to help bring the opposing parties together and bring an end to the violence. I understand those who are upset that I am laying all of this at the feet of Obama, I really am calling on ALL leaders, especially President Bush and the State Department, to play a more active role for peace. But please forgive me if I do not put too much faith in the State Department and the Bush Administration who have been quite clearly supporting incumbent President Kibaki and have a pretty poor record on diplomacy in general.