by Pauline Bartolone

Just when some of us might have forgotten about the violence in the aftermath of the recent presidential elections, conflict erupts again in the East African nation. This time in Kenya's third city, Kisumu.

This Frontline World dispatch by Kenyan-born Edwin Okong'o puts the conflict in context. Okong'o (a friend and colleague of mine) is Editor of Mshale, a newspaper for the African diaspora in the U.S. He says ethnic tensions are fueled by politicians playing the "tribe card."

Most Kenyans are not tribal fundamentalists, as they have been portrayed in foreign media coverage of the ethnic violence that broke out after the December 27th presidential election. Since independence from Britain in 1963, Kenyans from different tribes have lived together in peace. Intercultural marriages and relationships, once taboo in many tribes, have become increasingly common. In Kenyan cities, people do not live in segregated neighborhoods. Most people in Kenya respect each other. There are no groups anywhere in Kenya publicly claiming tribal supremacy.

During election years, politicians work night and day to make sure that Kenyans replace their religious faith and political beliefs with tribal extremism.

What Kenya does suffer from are some politicians who use the poor for political gain, including the two men on top of the current political gridlock....

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