THE 07/08 ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KIBERA:PHASE 1

Many stories have been told and heard about the post violence election,that took place in 2007/2008 general election in Kenya.This took place in various different places in the country involving clashes from different ethnic tribes in Kenya.

This happened after the announcement of president Mwai Kibaki,The Electrol Commission Of Kenya (ECK)as the winning candidate in the election.The  opposing candidate and his team claimed to have been cheated on and that ECK had not done justice.This angered the opposing side and decided to use force and violence to get justice.

Kibera:my slum was one of the victims that was mostly affected by the election's violence.This happened because the election was likely tribal based,where by some tribes voted for one party while others voted for the other party.Thus after the announcement,the tribe that had not won thought that the other tribes took place in cheating on the election,therefore,triggering bitterness and aggressiveness among them. More likely the slum is divided into villages which are also likely to be tribal based .e.g Laini saba-kikuyu,kamba and meru:Lindi-luo and luhya:Katwekera-luo:Makina-nubians e.t.c with a mixture of smaller tribes.So,in Kibera the smaller tribe that were among the wrong tribe at that time were forced to abandon everything they had and move to the safer side of their tribe or fight to death.

 On that day after the announcement of the results after about 30 min, we looked to the sky and what we could see was smoke.Then people running from side to side,mothers looking for their children,others screaming up and down that killing has began.All business were closed and people stayed indoor and silent,what we could hear was screams from people burning iron sheets and still people running up and down.


  When night had deeply fallen, that when I had the worst night on earth.I could not sleep, due to the screams and shouts,whistles were now used and how increased in number. All this sounds made me scared and sick. I could not eat anything, or do anything.I was just standing on the house confused,everything had lost value to me. What i needed was just a safe place.

By midnight all men including my father were forced out while women and children remained indoor. The men were required everyone to have a weapon and be ready for war. Some groups were formed to make sure that all men were out and alert, those that did not comply to this were forced out after some beatings.

By this time everybody had information about what was happening .i.e houses were being burned for those tribes that supported the winning candidate their property looted and some of them killed. That's why the men were forced out to protect their houses and property.

About dawn screams and whistles were ceasing but tension had increased from those had escaped the riot. Those who had escaped the loot crossed the safer side and told others what was happening. Most of people had lost their properties and their loved one's.This made people more alert with their weapons.

In the morning no one was allowed to go to work but to stay home to protect their houses and family. Some groups were formed along the main roads, thus restricting people from getting outside the slum. Also the matatu's were restricted from operating.

By noon two people had been mercilessly killed along the railway line while going to work. They were from another tribes, Therefore,were found on the wrong tribes at the wrong place and wrong time. Those who did these claimed to be doing revenge for their tribes,loved one's or property that had been killed or looted by the other tribes.

That day everything had come to a stand still, no business,no working,no walking,no music,just holding weapons ready to fight. Shops,kiosks and hotels were closed,no mama mboga dared to go soko. This meant that there was massive starvation. Some people had money but that did not help because those that owned the shops refused to sell food. They feared that the riot would persist and leave them with no food if they sold what they had.

After 2 days of the same routine some kiosks and shops were opened by those who had enough food. By this time tension and decreased because no tribe dared to cross to the other tribes territory. But still looting and killing was going on on the other sides. On this day the number of those killed had increased to 7 on my side and other more injured.




Then it happened that on the following by 11 o'clock we had noises on the road and ran to see.I could not believe what I saw. A man was screaming and running running mentioning his tribe. Actually people had mistaken him from another tribe and attacked him,he had no shirt,full of blood.His head had been cut beyond recognition and was bleeding thoroughly.

After my mum witnessed what was happening, he talked to my dad about our safety because he was so scared from what she had seen.On the following day early in the morning we were on the stage ready with our bags I and my sister.My mum and dad did not accompany us. At this time things had began to calm down,some business were opened,some people gone to work and matatu's began to operate. 

I being out of the slum marks the end of what i witnessed in My phase 1 post election violence in kibera...my phase 2 coming soon.