Kenyan Pundit

Site was back down again last night. Working on setting up a mirror site to handle traffic. Also had to try and make something out of New year’s eve.

I’m supposed to be traveling back to Joburg where I’m currently based tomorrow am. I want to stay behind and keep reporting because the situation is still tense & intense. Struggling with the decision to keep my family here, so that I can keep reporting since Baba KP has said I’m not being left behind solo.

On to the latest:

Thanks to all those who’ve offered to help me figure out my technical issues. Really appreciate it.

To keep free flow of information:

– Check out the mashada sms hotline, cheers Hash and David http://www.mashada.com/hotline.php

– Try and use mama mikes to send credit to your guys in Kenya www.mamamikes.com though they are not open till the 2nd.

Stories from the ground :

– There’s a huge shortage of Safaricom credit. Stores even charging more for it. I heard stories of a gas station in Langata selling 250kshs credit for 350 kshs. Take it or leave it.

– You can’t find meat anywhere in Nairobi. Guys going to Athi River for supplies. Meanwhile business as usual in Central. Someone is bringing me food from there.

– No cash in ATMs in most parts of Nairobi. Pesa Point has experienced withdrawals in the amount of Kshs 270 million in one week.

– Even in places in Nairobi that are safe, the situation is charged. I predict socialization will strictly be on ethnic lines since no side is willing to listen to the other and I’m talking about my peers folks. I hang out with people on both sides yesterday evening at different times and you cannot have a civil conversation if you’re not on the same side. It is really very scary. Bad bad slurs being tossed around casually. I felt like I was on the set of some bad movie about ethnic cleansing. People like me who come from many places in Kenya and who are upset about the process but don’t want violence have no voice. Kibaki you’ve “won” but is it worth it?

– Confirmed reports that women are being targeted for rape in the slums based on their ethnicity.

– Ethnic cleansing going on in Rift Valley. Kikuyus been targeted all over the province. Guys are being hidden by friends – I have first hand reports of this. My friend’s mother’s house was burnt in Molo last night. Where are these people supposed to go? Meanwhile, ODM supporters in ODM strongholds being beaten, raped, and killed arbitrarily by GSU officers. How does the “government” expect to heal these divisions once they have achieved their objective? Why are the two sides willing to pay such a high cost? We are just now recovering from Molo clashes of 1992! I’m frustated about the lack of options.

– Press being denied access to mortuaries.

News from KP readers:

– Airport in Mombasa is barricaded. Tourists stranded.

From news sources:

– Bitange Ndemo said that news media can broadcast news it just has to be delayed because the Government doesn’t have the technology to censor live broadcasts if there is inciteful information being broadcast.

Death tolls so far (this is from media sources, I suspect number is much higher getting reports of ethnic-based retribution on both sides)

– At least 46 people killed in Kisumu, 20 injured. Running battles still going on.

– 7 people dead in Mombasa

– 40 people dead in Eldoret

– At least 36 dead in Nairobi. GSU heavily guarding city mortuary probably to prevent real death toll from being known. 4 people killed in skirmishes between Mungiki and ODM supporters on Ngong Road

Rumors:

– Govt says Chief General Kianga still in office. There were rumors circulating that he had resigned and that the military is split as far as which way to go.

– ODM inauguration postponed till the 3rd.

From Kenyan Pundit readers:

– Raila calls for mass protests on the 3rd (seen on Al jazeera)

– Mutua says that the blackout is targeted towards vernacular radio in particular.

Where to get updates:

– We still can’t seem to get Al-jazeera where I’m staying, but I’m hearing K24 is broadcasting.

– BBC also seems to have stepped up their coverage.

Other news:

-There’s a run on supermarkets. the line at Nakumatt junction has reached the entrance of junction. Uchumi on Ngong road limiting how many people can enter the store.

– Shortage of credit for mobile phones in Nairobi. Guys relying on sambaza.

– It’s business as usual in Central Province. There were celebrations and parties yesterday. A friend of mine in Kiambu says that there’s zero police presence there.

– Raila press conference to be held in the afternoon. Will report on that.

I’m OK, blog is not down just took a break to decompress.

As far as the arrest rumor, consensus is that Pentagon rumors HAVE NOT been arrested.

Drove to a friend’s house less than ten minutes away and had to go through a police checkpoint. Very scary.

I have no news to report. It’s a total total blackout. Watching TV feels like watching TV under some crazy dictatorship. I mean we all know that the country is on fire, but KBC is airing Just for Laughs. WTF???

I, however, remain committed to keeping whatever news I can flowing so keep the info coming (even though it might sit in moderation for a while). And hopefully I’ll have something updates tomorrow from what is now for all intents and purposes my bunker.

Meanwhile, a section of the country is making plans for New Year’s Eve like nothing has happened.

Off to bed. This is all so draining.

All live broadcasts have been suspended by the government. The order was released as ODM was addressing their press conference.

This is now officially a police state.

So we have no idea what ODM is saying, and what the security situation is around the country.

If I was ODM, I’d jump on Youtube right now. But I suspect that the internet and mobile phones are next so don’t be surprised if I go quiet (it has been a good ride folks).

There’s a run of food in the stores, and we were barely able to get groceries. Mothers like me with small children can understand the stress of operating without necessities.

There’s a GSU vehicle at the end of the street where we are staying and I’m getting reports of looting in places like Ngara and South B so you can just imagine how bad things are.

I’ve had to moderate comments for now and will only allow comments that are sending information about what’s going on on the ground – too busy to focus on controlling the emotions of people on both sides.

For people who are claiming that I have no revealed my “true colours.” I will restate again that I am upset not because Raila lost and Kibaki won, but because the process was flawed. I’d be just as upset if Raila was in power and this was taking place under his watch. I ask those guys who fail to see anything wrong with the process, whether they would have said the same thing if this was Moi doing this in 2002 – I think not.

ALL Kenyans have been mocked today both PNU supporters and ODM supporters – this is what the country as a whole fought against in 2002 – how short are memories? And even if your side won you should not be content with KENYANS being treated like wapumbavu. Exactly how are we going to exceed 6% growth under this conditions?