I can't believe that there is nothing on here about what's happening in Kenya.

[Hecate]

I am so surprised.

here

here

here

here

here

For what it's worth, I do care. I find the reports horrific and frightening and am trying to suppress the fear that things will get worse before they get better. I visited Rwanda a couple of years ao and thathas left its own indelible impression on me .
I have only visited Kenya (some years ago) and only undestnad the politics enough to scratch the surface so do not feel qualified to enter into real debate (either on mumsnet or elsewhere). I feel deeply for you Hecate - and everyone else who is so much closer than am I to the situation. I believe (hope?) that a lot us do care but I see mumsnet as somewhere too frivolous to discuss such horrors.

I got through this morning DingDong with no problems so hopefully by now you have reached your friends.

Hecate after speaking to friends it seems that everyone is 'holed' up and too tired/scared to move around much. It seems that Desmond Tutu is actually doing some good and there is talk of a power sharing coalition and a possible re-run of the elections in 3 months time. Ihope your family are not split from each other and their villages for too much longer.

I'm pretty certain that most mnetters care about what is happening in Kenya, how to express their concerns or enter into a discussion may be much more difficult especially when they feel they don't know enough about the subject to comment. I also understand Elffriend and Belgian when you say you feel MN is too frivolous to discuss such things, but for some of us it such a part of our lives that not to discuss it on MN would be like pretending it isn't happening.

After many tears and soul searching we have decided to postpone going until Thursday. We don't feel it is fair to subject 3 small children to undue hardships when it isn't exactly necessary at the moment for us to be there. If it were just dh and I we would have gone. I am lucky to have the luxury of choice and plenty of support, unlike some .

dh on phone to them now !!!! they are fine

he says seems like its normal today and he has been able to move about freely and do his business.

more updated info on bbc news here

didn't know there was a thread TBH.

ML glad your family are ok, very worrying news.

This was big news in South Africa (I was on holiday) and horrible to see on the news/read about

So Dh & I were just talking about this awful situation and talking about it and what we can seem to understand is the level of violence.
Anger is totally understandable and thanks Hecat for your brilliant summary of how the situation has arisen we were not well informed of the country's politics.

I hope the violence ends soon and that Desmond Tutu can help bring a resolution.

I am in Nairobi now and the situation is just deteriorating across Kenya. It is depressing, such immense levels of violence and fear, with the ordinary man on the street being the most affected as the economy starts to suffer. It is an incredibly complex situation and we are now unsure if the violence can be abated by political negotiations and possible political solutions to a power sharing deal or whether it is simply too late to stop it all from spiralling out of control.

Hecate and MummyLin, I hope both your families are all well.