A tale of two cities: Kenyan election spotlights a divided capital
The chaotic aftermath of Kenya’s fiercely waged presidential election last week has highlighted the country’s enduring tribal and economic divisions
Nairobi — A week after a hotly contested presidential election, this nation’s tribal and economic divisions have been laid bare in Nairobi.In affluent districts of this bustling capital, traffic has returned, and voters gather in upmarket cafes to toast the reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta. Just minutes away, in the slums of Kibera and Mathare, smoke rises from tires burning in the streets, and supporters of opposition candidate Raila Odinga fight police in deadly clashes. “What I’ve learned from my first time voting is you vote, you lose, you get beaten up,” said Vincent Ochieno, 22 years old, a teacher from Mathare, in eastern Nairobi. As some residents picked through a vast mound of trash in the centre of the slum, he said he didn’t want to protest, as nothing would change: “Why should I go out and vote again?” In the heart of Nairobi’s booming business district on Monday, employees hurried back to work, ignoring Odinga’s call that voters should strike to protest the electi...
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