Tribal Tensions Make Members of Kenyan Kikuyu Tribe Target for Violence

Long since known for tribal tensions and problems, the highly disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki in the Dec. 27 political vote, has set off a literal firestorm of violence, with members of the Kikuyu tribe - of which President Kibaki is a member - at the center. On Tuesday, a church building belonging to the Kenya Assemblies of God Pentecostal congregation and containing a number of terrified Kikuyu was attacked and burned to the ground, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 according to the Associated Press.

The Kikuyu make up about 22% of today's Kenyans, according to the CIA's latest numbers, and have been one of the most politically active tribes since the 1920s when colonialism was a blessing to some and a scourge to others. It is not surprising therefore that the first prime minister and president ever elected, Jomo Kenyatta was a Kikuyu.

Raila Odinga, who suffered the political defeat at the hands of President Kibaki, is a Luo. Making up about 13% of the population, the Luo were schooled in British language and manners during the time of colonialism. In 1964, Luo Oginga Odinga was offered the vice presidency when Kenyatta because president, but soon there were problems between the two politicians and Odinga left the party. Raila Odinga is his son and as such the old rivalry between Kikuyu and Luo is once again awakened.

Although calling himself an agent for change, Mr. Odinga has yet to issue a statement with respect to the tribal violence that his supporters are inflicting on Mr. Kibaki's kinsmen. Yet in the same vein, the retribution that fuels the fires of tribal hostilities and have been given rise by allegations of vote rigging and other improprieties at the hand of the current government have not been addressed on the latter's website either.

It appears that neither politician is either willing or able to not only call for a halt to hostilities, much less exert the influence needed to end tribal warfare, thus begging the question if any politician at this point has the power to unite the various tribes of Kenya or if for the foreseeable future tribal tensions that erupt in occasional bouts of open warfare will be the law of the land.

Neighboring African countries are looking on with suspicion as Kikuyu are fleeing to their areas in an effort to escape the Luo. More often than not, the latter follow and before long the conflict is spilling over to other countries within the continent that is already more a less a powder keg waiting for just the right incendiary to light a tribal war that spans parts of the continent.