Kenyan Troubles and the Western Response

I thought I'd add a quick note on the on-going troubles in Kenya. Admittedly, I'm no expert on African politics but the degrading social and political situation in Kenya is tragic. For decades, Kenya has been one of Africa's greatest successes and cause for hope. Kenya was relatively prosperous and peaceful (although there has always been strife among competing ethnic groups). Kenya has also been an economic and political ally of the West, to the point of making it a target for antiwestern terrorist groups.

Yet, the fallout of a contested election in December that saw President Mwai Kibaki hold power in the midst of widespread claims of electoral tampering has set off violence that is only growing. Earlier in the week, Melitus Mugabe Were, an opposition leader who sought to quell the growing unrest, was seemingly assassinated in front of his house. Another member of the opposition party was shot and killed on Thursday although the details are still a bit unclear. Each murder has spawned riots across Kenya.

Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan is in Kenya attempting to broker peace between the factions. The New York Times reports that current Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will head there tomorrow. But more needs to be done in the West. Too often, the United States sits on its hands as African nations degrade into chaos rather than attempting to aid them when aid is still possible. The United States is not a panacea but if President Bush is looking toward his legacy, aiding an ally in their time of need is a legacy good enough for any president.