The Violence in Kenya

There was an article the other day in the paper that pointed out while we in the West were shocked by the outburst of violence in Kenya, there were warning signs. According to the article

Leaflets calling for ethnic killings mysteriously appeared before the voting. Politicians with both the government and opposition parties gave speeches that stoked ethnic hatreds. And local tribal chiefs plotted attacks on their rivals, according to some of them and their followers.

This news deeply disturbed me because it reminded me of what happened in Rwanda in the 90s. Though in Rwanda the premeditation occurred over a 12 month period, if not longer, evidently it doesn’t take much. Though, according to OxFam they believe this violence “is more about extreme poverty and inequality as it is about tribal identity.” I just sincerely hope and pray that Kenya does not continue on its path of violence, but rather chooses peace. Yet I also know when a people are hungry and lack opportunity, the situation is ripe for revolution.