Comments on: Kenya: Tribal hatred claims its first online casualty

By: Linda Simmons

Linda Simmons — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:55:28 +0000

I have just returned from Kenya and found that things in Nairobi seem to be back to normal. I was driving around by myself and the only thing that was really tricky was navigating the traffic that has gotten worse since I was there last summer doing Humanitarian work in Kibera with HIV/AIDS babies and their mothers. We have not been able to locate them yet.
Kenya survives on tourism and unless we can try to get the Embassies to change their recommendation on travel there it will be a very sad situation.
Most of the hotels were filled but filled with diplomats and buisiness people. Most of the Safari Camps in the Masai Mara have almost litterally had to close down most of their camps. I think there is a way to get people safely from Nairobi Airport, with a possible overnight at a hotel called the “Palacina” and then taken directly to Wilson airport and collected by the camps when they land.
My Kenyan son is an amazing guide and Calvin and Louise Cottar of Cottars 1920 Safari Camp (where we have spent a great deal of time) is one of the best camps in the Mara. I feel that this is very possible and can be done without travel agents or tour guides as that can be handled by Cottars themselves. I know how to do this safely since my return about a week ago. I love Kenya and want to see it start to prosper again..

By: Mwangi - the Displaced African

Mwangi - the Displaced African — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:17:23 +0000

Mashada is back, rejoice!!

By: Peter Smith

Peter Smith — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:50:54 +0000

More on SMS in Kenya, from NPR. The story includes reporting on the viral networks that spread texts promoting violence, as well as one telecommunication company sending peace messages.

By: James

James — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:28:31 +0000

Let there be peace to that we can build Kenya again. In more ways than one

By: Jikomboe » Sina Kabila Miye…. (ihavenotribe.com)

Jikomboe » Sina Kabila Miye…. (ihavenotribe.com) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:07:38 +0000

[...] ya tovuti ya mashada.com kuanza kutumiwa kama uwanja wa kusambaza chuki za kikabila kufuatia ujambazi wa demokrasia uliofanyika nchini Kenya, David Kobia ameamua kuja na kampeni ya [...]

By: Global Voices Online » Kenya: Bloggers rooting for peace and reconcilliation

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:05:06 +0000

[...] acrimony, Kenyans are now rooting for peace and reconciliation. While blogs and other online forums had become new avenues of channelling tribal prejudices, bloggers are now using the same avenues to express the need for peace and [...]

By: Nikenya

Nikenya — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:39:28 +0000

The online world levels the play ground so that what we can not be able to do offline, online we can be able to do.

It’s quite regrettable that mashada had to close thier forums because those bend to commit thier evil acts were more overwhelming.

For those bend to do good and succeed given the limited nature of resources, then online is the place to venture into.

Tribalism is an evil that can only be counteracted by the good that transcends all regardless of tribal considerations such as a more educated citizens, a thriving economy, more vibrant and independent institutions….

Unless we address core issues like poverty eradication, disease and education, tribalism in kenya is here to stay.

By: Mwangi (the Displaced African)

Mwangi (the Displaced African) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:23:07 +0000

To Jakob; what’s even more amazing about Kumekucha is the comments. People have so much anger and frustration to unleash.

By: Readers Edition » Kenia: Stammes-Hass im Internet

Readers Edition » Kenia: Stammes-Hass im Internet — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:03:55 +0000

[...] Artikel erschien zuerst auf Global Voices. Die Übersetzung erfolgte durch Clemens Harten, Teil des “Project Lingua“. Die [...]

By: Jakob

Jakob — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:42:30 +0000

The contrast between Kumekucha and Kenyan Entrepreneur is striking. One is attacking one man, Raila Odinga… yet the other is attacking a whole community.
Kibaki and Odinga should expect to be attacked in their running off for the presidency, but nobody should be blaming Jaluos en masse for Odinga’s ills, and nobody should be blaming Kikuyus en masse for Kibaki’s ills.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:22:02 +0000

What I am having a hard time understanding is why there are so many people online spewing so much hatred when they:
1) Are not directly involved in the fighting on the ground.
And very few of them speak as though their families or belongings are in jeopardy.
I think it’s sad that people can get so emotional, in a negative sense, about something that hasn’t affected them as deeply as it may have affected those who lost their lives or their homes.

By: Tarei Chirchir

Tarei Chirchir — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:18:13 +0000

The electoral body closed campaigns on 25th of december.Online world was the only place information could be passed.This included propaganda from both sides of the conflict.Modarators did a great job to prevent this hate campaigns but one wonders whether a tight lid on a volcano prevents an Erruption.The efforts of reconciliation should focus on long term solutions so that five years down the line rucurence does not occur.

By: Thoughts on Kenya « The Human Manifesto

Thoughts on Kenya « The Human Manifesto — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:45:15 +0000

[...] author raised three broad points, but acknowledged that the fall out could be wider. On Global Voices, there were reports of using online forums and blogging to fan the tribal fires. When conflicts [...]

By: Rachel Macy

Rachel Macy — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:18:19 +0000

What is happening in Kenya is simply awful with countless innocent people caught in the crossfire. We must try to emphasize the good we can do both online and directly in an attempt at hastening aid and at convincing international powers to action.
A good follow up to this blog is an article by OneWorld which outlines the crisis and gives information as to what others are doing and what you can do as an individual. http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/157386/1/7263

By: Peter Smith

Peter Smith — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:51:21 +0000

The csmonitor.com had an update on some examples of spontaneous citizen reporting and some of the more organized site's shortcomings, including verification of violence. Thanks to Global Voices for aggregating these bloggers' comments - and showing some of the hindrances to online media.