Kenyan Election Upheaval

In the aftermath of the disputed December 2007 elections, Kenya was plunged into mayhem threatening to tear one of Africa's most stable countries apart. Tribal tensions were unleashed when the Oppostion felt it was denied the Presidency after allegations of mass vote-rigging in the elections.

Attempts at mediation were bravely led by Kofi Annan but for a while seemed doomed to failure as both sides continued to bicker over the extent of rigging in the elections and the identity of those who bore responsibility for the troubles and tribal violence in the country.

Finally, after the dedicated persistence of Kofi Annan, a peace agreement was signed on 28th February. A power-sharing Government, between President Mwai Kibaki and the Opposition Leader, Raila Odinga, who formally took up the newly-made position of Prime Minister, was formed. The price though on the common "Mwanainchi' (common man) was terrible. Approximately 1,500 people were killed and nearly 250,000 were internally displaced.