Is Kenya Uncivilised?

[mistermack]

You bet.
Six men who raped a young girl, and then threw her into a latrine, breaking her back and paralysing her, were ordered to CUT THE GRASS around the local police station, as punishment.
Is this what they've done with their independence? It's not a great advert for Africa or Africans :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24755318

[mistermack]

Is this what they've done with their independence? It's not a great advert for Africa or Africans :

Just to add to that, I'm saying that there's something seriously wrong with the culture that has developed, not the people themselves. It's actually very encouraging that so many people have signed the petition.
But public opinion only REALLY has power to change things, when there is a genuine two or three party democracy, with power regularly changing hands. And a free and effective press.

If you haven't got those things, the people at the top can quite comfortably ignore what the people think.

[Blind groper]

There is little doubt that most of Africa (perhaps all?) is uncivilised compared to the west.

Tribalism is a big 'at fault' factor in maintaining barbaric and inhuman behaviour. It will take time before African nations can reach a level of civilised behaviour.

[Audley Strange]

Is this what they've done with their independence? It's not a great advert for Africa or Africans :

Just to add to that, I'm saying that there's something seriously wrong with the culture that has developed, not the people themselves. It's actually very encouraging that so many people have signed the petition.
But public opinion only REALLY has power to change things, when there is a genuine two or three party democracy, with power regularly changing hands. And a free and effective press.

If you haven't got those things, the people at the top can quite comfortably ignore what the people think.

I have to admit I'm surprised. A couple of things though i've always found Kenya's national press is better than the U.K's and probably less restricted. It is more coherent and has difficult topics front and centre not the babytalk "Wazza Bazza Lotto Booze Hell" like we get.

However as was pointed out to me several thousand times and as B.G points out. Despite being a national democracy, it still has deeply traditional tribal roots and this affects both general politics and local issues.

I've been in many other places where this story would not have shocked me, somehow though it does seem a bit odd.

[mistermack]

Yeh, tribalism is a strong force in any society, but it needs to be diverted towards a football team, or something equally trivial. We've all got the tribal instinct, but it's mainly when it's directing politics, that the trouble really starts.
I don't know much about Kenya, but it's good to know that the press is in good shape.

I'm guessing that in this case, it probably IS tribalism at the root of it. If people vote in a tribal way, those at the top can sit comfortably, with a secure majority, and basically, do as they like.

Plus maybe family connections played a part, as a sub-plot, and maybe some money changing hands somewhere. But it's so blatant, that the police obviously feel secure in doing it, they must know that there will be no comeback on them, which is disturbing.

In a country with a lot of unemployment, people are not going to risk a good job. Whoever made the decision not to charge the men must be a hundred percent confident that no matter what happened, he wouldn't be disciplined, or out of a job.

[Audley Strange]

I think the problem is that police in most places are as institutionally corrupt as their governments are. In places where tribalism or caste systems are still strong some get favoured others get shat on more openly.

This may well have nothing to do with any of the above though, it just seems reasonable to me that it may well be a factor. Still inexcusable though.