Naivasha steals the show

HOW DID NAIVASHA STEAL THE 2008 POST ELECTION VIOLENCE SHOW?
It is unquestionable that the 2008 attacks and killings started in Eldoret. Eldoret had the largest number of people killed in the violence. The violence spread to Kisumu, Kericho and Mombasa before there was any trouble in Naivasha. Even before Kenyans heard about troubles in Naivasha, there had already been immense killings in Molo, Njoro, Githima village near Nakuru and in Western Kenya. Then followed Nairobi and Naivasha. Naivasha came last in the violence. According to the data on the number of people killed during that violence, Naivasha had the least number of people killed. Eldoret and Kisumu topped the list, followed by Kericho, Mombasa, Molo, Njoro, Kakamega, Bungoma, Nairobi, Nakuru and then Naivasha.

In Naivasha, the Kikuyus attacked and killed the Luo. There were no Kalenjins and therefore none of them was killed there. In Nairobi, there were killings from both sides. The Luos and the Kalenjins killed the Kikuyus while the Kikuyus killed the Luos and the Kalenjins. Again there were not many Lalenjins for the Kikuyus to attack in Nairobi. In all other areas which included Eldoret, Kisumu, Kericho, Molo, Njoro, Mombasa, Kakamega and Bungoma, only one community was targeted and killed, the Kikuyus.

Today, Naivasha has been leveled the hottest spot in the 2008 violence. The Kenya Media and the Kenya Human Rights organizations have often portrayed Naivasha, as the town where most Kenyans died in the Post election violence. This is the other area where both the Kenya media and the Kenya human rights fraternity may be questioned on transparency and accountability. It is high time when the figures of how many people died and where they died, are displayed in the Kenya printing media for both Kenyans and the international community to see in order to understand and dispel the notion and belief that Naivasha was either the hottest spot in the 2008 violence or the place where the violence started.

It is very clear that, had the attacks and the killings not taken place in all other areas of Kenya earlier, and had the emotions developed after seeing the wounded Kenyans who escaped death and fled to Central Province and other areas, not realized, there are no doubts, that no attacks would have taken place in Naivasha and Nairobi where different communities have lived together in peace for many years.

Naivasha is now viewed to have been the major spot in the post elections violence. Its publicity by the Kenya media as the main spot for the killings has become the center of attraction in the entire World. Whereas the killings which took place in Naivasha should be condemned, It should be made very clear that very few people lost their lives in Naivasha, considering the thousands of children and women who were killed in Eldoret and the other areas, where condemnation and publicity by the Kenya Media and the Kenya Human Rights organizations, appears to be minimal. Why the Kenya media has chosen to highlight the attacks in Naivasha more than the other areas, especially Eldoret and Kisumu, leaves a lot to be desired.
Isaac Newton Kinity
Former Secretary General,
Kenya Civil Servants Union and Chairman
Kikimo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication.