IT IS NOT A WAR

The international media, and friends here in denmark seems to have a very war-like imagination of what is going on in Kenya, most likely due to the medias continious reference to other african countries like Rwanda, Somalia and Ebony Coast.

So for the reference - Kenya is not becoming a new geniocide, nor is it in a state of civil war.

During the last week 300-400 people have died from the post election violence - compared to a full population of 30 million people. The Kikuyu tribe, which is the one most ethnic violence has been directed at, is approximately 22% of the population which is more than 5 mil people. The Luhya (14%) and Luo (13%), which from a purely tribal perspective has been some of the strongest opposition supporters, hold about 6 mil of the population, so the situations in which police have shot at protesters, can in no way be called geniocide either.

Kenya is a country on the rise - it has during the last five years had a gcp of more than 5 percent, and (according to nationmedia), lifted more than 2 mil out of poverty - thus the vote was not about who could save the country, but about who could make it grow the fastest. The situation in Kenya, is not a civil war agains an evil dictator. It is a display of frustration over a disputed poll that split the population in two - and it is a power game between two politicians, who are both unbendable focused on leading the country in the next five years - refering to the quote from a friend in my last post.

The sad thing about this situation, is that the politicians who vowed to take kenya to new heights, now seems bend on destroying it. Right now there is over 170.000 displaced people in Kenya, and unles a solution is found quickly that can make people live peacefully side by side, then this will be a huge problem in not only the months, but also the years to come - if a solution is found, however, most of these can go to their homes again, and life can, with quite a bit of rebuilding, continue.

But again, it is not a geniocide or a civil war - just an election and a bunch of politicians from different parties, gone very very wrong.

For voices of wisdom, please check the editorials of the two kenyan newspapers previously posted, and the statements of amongst others the Danish ambassador.

Situation in Kenya

Hi All

Worked in Kenya as leader in a student driven leadership organization the whole of last year, so have been trying to stay in contact with my friends in the country in this very sudden crisis, in a country that is both stable and peaceful normally. People are telling me that stores has been burned, as well as kikuyu houses in many of the affected areas, so there will be certainly be a huge need for investments to get the local communities back on track when the conflict drives over.

Friends in El-Doret and Kisumu tells me that they are still locked down for travelling, and that violence still erupts in the evening hours, even though things have gotten better over the last few days. With the postponement of the rally today, people hope for relative calm in the next 2-3 days (with more shops hopefully opening for sales of basic necessities) - but unless a solution is created by the two rivaling parties, people fear that tempers will flare again Monday and Tuesday where today’s demonstration by the opposition has been moved.

Most are shocked that such a thing could happen in their country, and just hope for a quick solution so things can go back to normal. A quote from a friend: "... we voted for a better kenya non of us signed up for this.most pple want the leaderz to speak up and end this not to go to the press give demands before negotiations or telin us the results were free&fair and constantly wishin us a happy new year. i am incurrably hpeful itl blow over ..."

For an insider perspective on the situations, check the blog of Victoria, who is currently HR director of the NGO in kenya, and who is situated in a safe house near ngong road (kibera slum):
http://mailtovvik.blogspot.com/

or check out the HPs of the two big and mostly impartial Kenyan media houses:
http://www.eastandard.net/
http://www.nationmedia.com/

Best regards,
Kristian

A year has passed

Mish, a very close kenyan friend of mine wrote me a comment about one of the first blog entries I wrote more than one year ago now - this blog entry was about one of the most inspiring events of my life, attending the international trainers conference in AIESEC, and it was the very experience that gave me the courage to take up the responsibility as the MC People development in the year that now has passed - one event CAN certainly change the course of a lifetime ;)

In the ending comments of my article a year ago, I wrote that I now had regained my inspiration, and that all I needed was ways to express and share it - through my year in Kenya, I most definately arthieved that, meaning that I both managed to inspire a lot of wonderfull young AIESECers (or at least so several of the claim ;)), and gaing so much satisfaction and personal learning from doing so. Kenya was a wonderfull experience for me - however, it was just the first steps, as there is a whole lifetime of experiences and possibilities ahead of me - next step for now is national training in Denmark, finishing my studies and training or charing in conferences all over europe ... after that, well who knows, as long as I keep following my passion I know I will not get bored ;)

Smiles and huge hugs!
Kristian

Reflections on evilness and the state of Africa

A friend of mine posed this question in her blog "What makes people evil". This inspired me to write quite a long comment about the state of Africa, which I might as well share with you her too ;)

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Well, my experience from living here in Kenya for a period (even though Kenya is one of the most thriving and peaceful African communities), is that it basically is up to the individual whether he or she is good or not. Most of the wrongdoings in Africa is to some extent linked to accepting the status quo - just as in Blood Diamond, the phrase "This is Africa" or "This is Kenya", is used as an excuse for the country or the region not moving anywhere, and newer being able to do so - which is really sad.

The people who are "evil" down here, that is muggers, conmen, corrupt officials etc., all see themselves as justified for their actions, as they have families to feed or because nobody ever supported them (survival of the fittest). The interesting thing is that this even counts for the rich bad people too - what is important is the thrift of you, your family and your friends, everybody else must try to make it on their own.

By my belief one of the biggest reasons for this, is undependable governments throughout many years - if you cannot depend on the system, you will have to make your own way in the world - if you tried to change it a few times and failed, the easiest way out is a "TIA" attitude - accepting status quo, is to fail as a leader of change.

Anyway, luckily I see a lot of positive development in many African countries now a days. Kenya lived under a dictator for 20 years until the last election in 2002 where he democratically was replaced. The current president has used most of this term on slowly rebuilding the country, and on the way fighting corruption, bad economic growth etc. Kenya is on the right track now, and so is Tanzania, Ghana and a few others. South Africa is fooling a bit around, and does not seem to be moving much, Rwanda is developing strongly by surprisingly having an extraordinary strong, open minded and development focused leader (who nevertheless is a dictator - political opposition to him always seems to get beaten down in the press very quickly), Nigeria - heh, etc.

So my hope for the world of tomorrow is that this development continues, and that other areas of the world does not develop into a status of utter stupidity - like a Christian/Muslim war or whatever - aie, humans can be so stupid at times.

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Hugs and Smiles from Sunny Kenya
Kristian

Lacking towards the end

Hi All, a dodgy update from the warm country down under.

I have now been here for almost eight months, and I am beginning to feel really comfy and integrated. Nairobi is a beautifull city when you know the pulse, and Kenyans are approximately the most wonderfull people in the world. The definately have lots of "challenges" society wise, and the culture as such is very emotional, which can make it a challenge to work in it at times, but as a whole, Kenyans are the warmest, happiest and most caring people in the world (Open to inviations from countries who want to prove me wrong ;)).

Am currently working on finalizing my area, and making sure that all what I have done for AIESEC down here during my year as responsible for people development (aka. human resource + leadership development), survives and goes into caring and competent hands after me. Have been recieving a lot of positive feedback, which I admit flatters me, but also worries me. If you only recieve positive feedback and still knows you could do so much more, and so much better in a number of areas, that must mean that either people are either not noticing, or that they just hold back right? Anyway, hope I have managed to touch the lives of at least a few individuals down here, and that what I have made, have some kind of impact on the lives of the 400 AIESEC members I have been working with and on. By going here I realized a dream, the next step will be to make dreams of similar impact and passion come true for the rest of my life too :)

A few thoughts shared - will upload some fancy photos later...

Smiles,
Kristian

Amazing New Years Eve at the Beach!

New Year, 30 degrees heat, seven friends of which six are girls, cheap booze and a big milky white beach. WOW!!!


How happy can a man be :)

This year I celebrated New Years Eve together with a bunch of friends on a beach at the Kenyan Coast. We chilled in front of a few five star hotels, enjoying our cheaply "imported" Kenya Canes (Kenyan 40% spirit made of sugar cane), the gently rolling waves of the ocean as well as the retro music swimming down towards us from the hotels - definately a new year to be remembered :D

Huge hugs to the crew consisting of Jacob from Germany (my fellow male), Siobahn from UK, Natalia from Germany and Leah, Sheila, Nina and Juliet from Kenya - nothing like a party amongst friends you trust and love :D

For more details explore the photo album below - you will not regret it ;)

New Year Malindi Kenya 2006/2007

Huge Hugs and Best of Smiles :)
Kristian