Photo display replays Kenya poll chaos
A woman cries outside the Kiambaa church where several people were burnt to death in January 2008. Photo/FILE
Tears flowed freely as memories of post-election violence were replayed at a photo exhibition in Eldoret Town at the weekend.
The residents were treated to few heart-warming pictures before moving on to scary ones to remind those who witnessed and those who didn’t about what transpired after the 2007 disputed presidential poll results.
Counsellors were at hand to attend to those overwhelmed by emotions. The exhibition was organised under the auspices of “Picha Mtaani, Heal the Nation” initiative in collaboration with USAid and UNDP.
The pictures at the municipal council grounds, showed Kenyans full of vigour casting their votes oblivious of what lay ahead.
Running battles
The pictures showing demonstrators as well as security personnel engaging the public in running battles and bodies of some of those killed left many heart-broken.
“This was terribly bad. A man hacking his fellow human being to death is not something Kenyans should take for granted,” said Ms Mary Chebet as tears flowed down her cheeks.
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, seen crying in some photographs, were dismissed as shedding crocodile tears given the manner in which they were governing this country.
“They have not shown commitment to ensure the country does not revert to what happened in the last General Election,” said Mr Derreck Too.
Mr Boniface Mwangi, the project director, said the pictures though a sad reminder, would enable Kenyans condemn tribalism and understand the value of respecting and valuing life.
