Film on poll chaos to be screened

As the International Criminal Court (ICC) decides whether to charge six prominent Kenyans over the violence that erupted after the disputed 2007 presidential election, a documentary film that urges reconciliation at the grassroots as much as at the political level is set to be screened at Ampath hospital in Burnt Forest on Tuesday.

The film titled African answer was shot in Burnt Forest, one of the hotspots of post-election violence. It was edited in London and its award-winning director Alan Channer will attend the event in Burnt Forest.

More than 50 DVDs will also be handed over to community leaders in the area courtesy of the British High commission in Nairobi.

During the post-election violence, 1,133 Kenyans lost their lives and about 600,000 were displaced.

At the moment, thousands of those that were displaced are still languishing in camps across the country.

The film was launched last year at Serena Hotel, Nairobi, and after its international premiere in the country, the film went to United Kingdom where it was screened in the House of Commons’ Royal Society of Arts.

In the film, former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, who brokered peace in the country, urges for reconciliation.

The film goes on to show former militia leaders, turned peace-makers, from Nigeria mediating between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities in Burnt forest.

Building of trust

It shows the process of rebuilding of trust between the two ethnic groups and one outcome is the decision of the respective community leaders to recombine their market stalls destroyed in Burnt Forest.

The two Nigerian mediators, Imam Muhamed Ashafa and pastor James Wuye said later: “We just touched a spirit of reconciliation that was already there. The solutions come from the people themselves.”

Last month President Kibaki was in Eldoret Town on the invitation of Rift Valley leaders for a reconciliation rally. He praised the leaders for resolving to work together to promote peace and reconciliation in the region.

President Kibaki urged the leaders to remain steadfast in their commitment to ensure wananchi are united and lived harmoniously.

“I appeal to you all not to change the decision you have taken to ensure that wananchi in this region live together peacefully as Kenyans by preaching peace and reconciliation,” President Kibaki said.