Blogs - Shailja's Blog RSS Feed

Closing Thoughts On Way Forward for Kenya

Shailja Patel — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:57:00 EST

Yesterday, Kenya's 10th Parliament convened formally, to implement the Harambee House Accord. Kenya's urban middle classes bask in the justified relief of our country being pulled back from the very brink of civil war. But the 600,000 Kenyans living in appalling destitution in IDP camps have nothing to celebrate.

US Coalition for Peace with Truth and Justice in Kenya

Shailja Patel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:20:00 EST

Kenyans based in the US have created a network of communication for diaspora groups to take action and support the ongoing quest for Peace With Truth and Justice in Kenya.

Resist Climate of Fear

Shailja Patel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:14:00 EST

The fear is growing, says L. Muthoni Wanyeki, Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission. But we must resist and dispel it by naming the sources of the violence, and demanding accountability.

Kiai to US House of Representatives

Shailja Patel — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:08:00 EST

Maina Kiai is the Chair of the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights. In the past two weeks, he's received death threats for his public stance for truth and justice for all Kenyans.

Rwandan men protest gender-based violence in Kenya

Shailja Patel — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:08:00 EST

The Rwanda Men's Resource Centre has issued a global call to action for men, and male leaders, to speak out against gender-based violence in Kenya.

Mungiki engaged in peacemaking

Shailja Patel — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:07:00 EST

A network called Pyramids of Peace met Mungiki (Kikuyu militia) in Naivasha last week, and persuaded them to remove roadblocks for the next seven days. They need airtime and cellphones to continue this amazing work.

Friends getting death threats

Shailja Patel — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:50:00 EST

for daring to speak out against electoral malpractices, and human rights violations in the past weeks in Kenya. The threats arrrive by email, sms, phone. Their names are on lists, being circulated globally, that denounce them as "traitors to the Kikuyu people" and suggest they should be killed.

Direct Relief Aid for Kisumu

Shailja Patel — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:50:00 EST

Sukuma Kenya was set up a few weeks ago by Dipesh Pabari, close friend, dedicated Kenyan journalist and activist. It's the charity I recommend to everyone who asks where they can donate to ease the suffering of displaced Kenyans. First, because I can personally vouch that EVERY PENNY you donate, beyond transaction fees, goes directly to the relief effort. All those involved are volunteers - no overhead costs.

Senate Resolution Passed Unanimously!

Shailja Patel — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:29:00 EST

Now we need to build and sustain pressure on the State Department and the White House to implement its recommendations. Please take these simple actions.

Road Map Out Of The Chaos

Shailja Patel — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:08:00 EST

A roadmap of guidelines for the mediation process has been released by Kenyans for Peace With Truth and Justice, a coalition of over 40 human rights, governance and legal organizations in Kenya. KPTJ states starkly: "Violence is rapidly spreading. Politicians are continuing to take hard-line positions. And there is a possibility that the country is gravitating to full scale civil war."

Two excellent blogs on Kenya Crisis

Shailja Patel — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:43:00 EST

The Vigilante Journalist posts eyewitness accounts and photos from areas of conflict in Kenya. And Kenyan Emergency, written by a London-based Kenyan, "mother of three, student of international politics", provides daily roundups and commentary, and analysis, from a range of Kenyan and international sources. I recommend both of them highly.

Four Kinds of Violence In Kenya

Shailja Patel — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:24:00 EST

Reports from human rights groups, based on information from their monitors in the field, indicate that there are four sources of the ongoing violence in Kenya.

US Senate Resolution on Kenya

Shailja Patel — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:39:00 EST

Introduced on Friday, to be tabled this week, the resolution sets out terms for a viable, sustainable peace process. It calls for the US to apply sanctions, including a travel ban and visa freeze on leaders of PNU and ODM, until the crisis is resolved. The resolution is expected to pass unanimously, but this can be ensured by generating a critical volume of calls and emails to senators.

Sexual Violence Against Displaced Women

Shailja Patel — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:22:00 EST

Kenyan women and girls in vulnerable communities are at tremendous risk of rape and sexual violence in the ongoing crisis. Hospitals have seen the number of rape cases double within days after the disputed presidential election. Funds are urgently requested for rape crisis response centres in Mathare, Huruma, Jamhuri Park, and Kibera.

Thirty Hours That Destroyed Kenya

Shailja Patel — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:55:00 EST

Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice have released the data, findings, analysis and verification of their legal working group, who have conducted an intensive investigation of electoral anomalies and malpractices that plunged Kenya into civil war. The four documents comprise:

Roll-out of Kenya Human Rights Violations

Shailja Patel — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:40:00 EST

This Friday, in Nairobi, the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights will release its documentation to date of the human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law that have occurred in the post-election period.

Petition to pull Kenya back from the brink

Shailja Patel — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:34:00 EST

Only dialogue and an independent election review will resolve the crisis. The world can play a crucial role: by reinforcing the efforts of mediators like Kofi Annan, and refusing to recognize any government not legitimately established. 50,000 of us have already sent this message to our foreign ministers, and almost all have listened so far. But inside Kenya, hardline leaders are sowing conflict and the country hangs in the balance.