Killing the goose
by planetparker
During the election campaign in Kenya, Mwai Kibaki used the economic prosperity that has embraced the country as one reason why Kenyans should re-elect him. However, having decided that he shouldn’t leave the decision regarding his re-election entirely up to the Kenyan people, he now risks seeing the prosperous nation he superintended for five years go up in smoke. Was his desire to hold on to power worth ruining his country?
I’ve just received an e-mail from avaaz.org asking me to write to my foreign minister urging him to delay recognition of Kibaki’s regime pending, at the very least, an independent audit of the polls. I’ve done this and I urge others to do the same. But in all honesty, what’s the use? Ireland doesn’t have an independent foreign policy any more. Decisions are taken “in consultation with other EU members”. This is a great excuse for doing nothing. Anyway Dermot Aherne wouldn’t intervene. For one thing, if he were in Kenya he’d be loudly defending his president. He wouldn’t see anything wrong with a bit of electoral manipulation. He’s from Louth for God’s sake.
It’s very easy to feel helpless in this world.
