Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - “The investigation commission for the elections seems a necessary and important step that will shed light and return peace to the country,” Agenzia Fides was told by a source from the local Church in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, commenting on the announcement made by Kofi Annan, mediator in the crisis that has arisen in the country, of an agreement to form an independent investigation commission regarding the presidential elections of December 27, 2007.
The cause behind the crisis that has currently been unleashed in the country is an accusation of electoral fraud against President Mwai Kibaki, winner of the elections, on the part of opposition leader Raila Odinga. “I hope that in addition to the manipulations of votes, they will also examine the violent episodes that began following the elections...violence that was not spontaneous, but instead organised,” this source of Fides explained.
Annan asked the Head of State and the opposition leader to negotiate in a secret place, to avoid interferences and news attention that could impede their efforts. “This is a good sign, as it means that the talks have entered into a crucial stage. I have the impression that the threats to impose sanctions from the United States and the European Union have convinced the leaders that the moment for an accord has arrived. Moreover, of course, because the country is falling to bits,” our source said.
The country’s economy has, in fact, been severely damaged by the crisis, with long-term consequences. “If no immediate solution is found, in six months we will have 2 million people left unemployed. The most effected sectors are agriculture and tourism. In Europe, people are worried because the price of roses has risen for St. Valentine’s Day, as many roses in the European market come from Kenya through Holland. But, who worries about the 50, 000 people who work in the flower businesses of Naivasha, the rose capital of Kenya, who are now out of work? Or worries about their families who counted on their salary for their survival?,” Fides’ source asked. All those who work in agriculture, a total of 1,200,000 people, run the risk of losing their jobs. The industrial part of the country has also suffered greatly. In Nakuru, for example, a factory that employed 250 people has had to close. “In this case, the directors of the company tried to calm spirits, trying to find a solution, but in the end, they have found it a more prudent decision to suspend work, in hopes that the situation improves,” the source of Fides explained.
The workers’ crisis has topped the number of refugees (600,000), who have been forced to flee due to violence in recent weeks. “The young people are the most affected by this situation. Many schools are still closed, in spite of the fact that the government has recently approved a program making secondary schools free of charge. Professors’ mobility has been limited due to the fact that depending on their ethnic background, a teacher or professor is at risk teaching in a school in “rival” areas. In some cases, the threats in the schools come from the Mungiki (see Fides 21/1/2008), as was the case of the national school for nursing, started by the Catholic Church in a town near Naivasha, and in the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), a center for agricultural studies that is renowned in all Africa,” the source concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/2/2008 righe 43, parole 569)
