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Kenya in Trouble

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We've been trying to find a way into the election violence in Kenya... and it was right here around the corner. Ken Okoth is a history teacher at the Potomac School outside D.C., but he grew up in the huge Nairobi slum of Kibera -- in fact, he's been trying to get his family out of the country to escape the violence there. (For more on this -- see the BPP, which has been talking to him for the past week.) Today, we'll get an update from Gwen Thompkins, and then we'll talk to Ken about his experiences.

Barrie Hardymon

Tags: Ken Okoth | Kenya

1:56 PM ET | 01- 8-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

One thing that comes to mind. The fact that ALL close elections are divisive.

Not just Kenya (2007), look at the 2000 election here. If G.W. Bush had won by 10%, would there be a "MoveOn.org". It is only the close elections which cause this. And it is all because of "machine politics".

Some European countries have "run-off" elections to cure this very problem. A winner is not declared unless a 55 or 60% majority elects them. But that would require compromise!

We need to trust the "offical" results of our elections (whether you agree with them or not). The only alternative is to fall into civil unrest (Kenya, Pakistan, Iraq).

Sent by Harold | 3:48 PM ET | 01-08-2008

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