Al Jazeera Warns of Kenya's 'Electoral Violence' While Sidestepping Deep Colonial Scars
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera provides an opinion piece warning that Kenya is ripe for electoral violence in its upcoming presidential vote, attributing the potential unrest primarily to internal conditions and calling for Kenyans themselves to prevent it. The article echoes prior concerns about ethnic divisions and political mobilization. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The media
consistently frames African electoral violence as an inherent flaw, ignoring the deep structural damage from British colonial policy (1895-1963) which deliberately engineered ethnic divisions for 'divide and rule' strategies, leading directly to land disputes and political tensions that persist today. Post-independence, Kenya has been a key Western ally, often used as a regional proxy, with
significant financial and military aid tying its stability to Western interests, not just internal dynamics. Double Standard: Western media often highlights internal 'corruption' and 'ethnic violence' in African nations, while downplaying or ignoring comparable political instability, corporate influence, and electoral irregularities in their own systems. When US-backed coups (e.g., Chile 1973,
Guatemala 1954) or resource grabs (e.g., Congo's ongoing mineral extraction by Western corporations) destabilize nations and create violence, the blame is rarely placed on external actors or specific corporate interests. Follow the Money: The UK and US are major arms suppliers to Kenya. For instance, the UK approved over £11 million in arms exports to Kenya in 2021-2022, and the US provides