Don't Be Vague!
December 15, 2010 6:27 PM Subscribe
Election night, Kenya, 2007. The votes roll in, and at some time around 11pm, as victory seemed imminent for the opposition candidate, all televisions in the country went black. When broadcasts resumed in the morning, the incumbent had materialized enough votes to soundly win the election. In the aftermath, a wave of violence broke out in which some 1,300 people were killed. In opposition to a domestic investigation of the violence, Kenyan MP's chanted 'Don't be vague; go to the Hague!' Now, three years later, some officials are a bit less enthusiastic. A series of articles on the ICC investigation of political violence in Kenya: I II III IV
Kenya stands at a crossroads. It boasts one of the most corrupt governments in the world, yet has been one of the more stable sub-Saharan states, with a strong independent press and reform movement, including a Nobel Peace Prize winner. A new constitution was recently adopted, full of measures to eliminate corruption, but has yet to be implemented as the current Parliament continue jockeying under the old rules. The ICC is a first attempt to bring justice against the most powerful members of the Kenyan elite, with the goal of increasing the country's political stability. The six indicted have already been asked to resign. Meanwhile, corrupt leaders named in cables published by Wikileaks have been loudly denouncing the American ambassador, to remove the focus from themselves. The events of the next few months will determine the direction of the nation for years to come.
Kenya stands at a crossroads. It boasts one of the most corrupt governments in the world, yet has been one of the more stable sub-Saharan states, with a strong independent press and reform movement, including a Nobel Peace Prize winner. A new constitution was recently adopted, full of measures to eliminate corruption, but has yet to be implemented as the current Parliament continue jockeying under the old rules. The ICC is a first attempt to bring justice against the most powerful members of the Kenyan elite, with the goal of increasing the country's political stability. The six indicted have already been asked to resign. Meanwhile, corrupt leaders named in cables published by Wikileaks have been loudly denouncing the American ambassador, to remove the focus from themselves. The events of the next few months will determine the direction of the nation for years to come.
Quick note: the cables were not Wikileaks' first interaction with Kenyan politics.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:59 PM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:59 PM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
There's something wrong with me. Whenever I see the word Kenya, my mind switches the letters around and I think I'm reading about Kanye West.
posted by azarbayejani at 10:01 PM on December 15, 2010
posted by azarbayejani at 10:01 PM on December 15, 2010
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No one got a good word for a single one.
Where these first-class geniuses all goin' wrong,
They never got the population singing along.
The Hague/Vague thing is good, but not really charge beating in terms of length, I look forward to the rest of the Kenyan parliament's work as corruption charges go ahead.
posted by fido~depravo at 6:57 PM on December 15, 2010