Not much to report at this point. Here’s the latest I have:
– Was worried about running out of food this morning, but a good friend who lives in Kiambu, where it’s business as usual, came over with “relief supplies” including meat because you know Kenyans can’t do that vegetarian story if they can help it:-) Very surreal. Anyway, I’m in Kenya until I run out of diapers and formula, which will probably be this weekend.
– Bulk sms has been blocked by the government to prevent guys from sending inciteful messages. Meanwhile the “President” is wishing Kenyans a happy new year and has said absolutely not one thing about the hundreds of lives that are being lost – isn’t this lack of action just as inciteful?
– Alfred Mutua, the government spokesman, continues to be in la-la land talking about incidents of violence “here and there.” Actually, he is beginning to remind me of Baghdad Bob when the Iraq war started.
– Apparently the media blackout is not based on any law, the media council could theoretically challenge it. Something fishy is going on, because the local media is not even taking advantage of the delay thingy they have to broadcast updates through out the day. Is this self-censorship or does Michuki have a gun to their head? I’m getting more news from BBC than from anywhere else right now.
– Nairobi Women’s Hospital sexual assault unit is reporting a sharp increase of cases of rape and sodomy – keep in mind that these if from the few women who are able to make it there.
– Displaced families walking around city center.
– International community pressing for a recount to be done in presence of the media and to be broadcast live as a way out of impasse. Former president of Sierra Leone being brought in to talk to Kibaki.
– Minister for Internal Security John Michuki is running the country for all intents and purposes.
Please keep the information coming (kenyanpundit-at-gmail.com), I may not post everything you send but it is all very helpful as far as keeping me abreast of what’s happening out there from my “bunker.”
Out for a few hours, no posts till later this evening.