31 December 2007
Due to the current explosive situation in Kenya following the elections, I will not be flying to Nairobi on 3 January. My departure has been postponed until the situation calms down in Kenya. When exactly is still unknown. In the next days I expect to be in close contact with Skillshare International about the situation in Kenya and about my future departure.
Meanwhile I have ended up in a crazy ‘spiral of information’ with my love. He went to his hometown Loyangalani in the north in order to cast his vote and is currently unable to travel back to Nairobi, due to the unrest. Loyangalani itself is calm, but completely blocked from all news. Radio stations do not work, the only channel in operation on the television is controlled by the government. Here in the Netherlands we turn out to be much better informed about the latest news than the Kenyans themselves. Fortunately the mobile network is back into operation. Which means that every hour an sms with the latest news is finding its way to Loyangalani.
2 pm: “Latest news. City centre of Nrb is closed, no one is allowed in. Police is announcing in Kibera that anyone leaving their house will b shot dead immediately. Heavy riots also in Mombasa & Kisii. Raila compared Kibaki 2 Idi Amin & has just called his supporters 2 a massive demonstration on Thursday.”
Nrb = Nairobi, Kenya’s capital
Kibera = biggest slum in Nairobi
Mombasa = city in Kenya
Kisii = city in Kenya
Raila = Raila Odinga, the opposition leader that according to the official result has lost the election by just a few thousand votes
Kibaki = the president, who according to the official result has been elected for a second term and was sworn in immediately after that announcement
Idi Amin = former dictator in Uganda
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