Scholar Assesses Kenya Politics

Political violence that is characterized by ethnic targeting, regardless of extent, tears at the carefully constructed fabric of a national identity. It concretizes suspicion and "otherness" in ways that the seemingly constant sub-script of ethnic politics does not, even through several elections. And with one or more groups feeling victimized and seeking revenge (in a situation where the state is weak in both its protective and compensatory abilities, redress is a rare claim), it can lead to cycles of violence. Burundi, rather than the genocidal shock of Rwanda, is the best neighboring example -- experiencing a low grade but constant political violence that has stretched for decades. How do you stop this? What is crucial is that the state pursues all perpetrators immediately, consistently, and on all sides. Impunity can only be contained if politicians, citizens, and state instruments (e.g. police) are held accountable for both acts of commission and omission. Second, victims must be compensated -- victims should not be made to suffer twice, otherwise they will seek redress though revenge.