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Post-Election Crisis in Kenya
It's been a turbulent week in Kenya. Riots have left homes burned down, hundreds of people dead, and the economy in trouble. It all started with a presidential election. The votes were very close, and when a winner was announced, the losing party said that there was cheating.
The election was held on December 27 but it took three days to count the ballots. The election officials said that President Mwai Kibaki was re-elected. His opponent was Raila Odinga. Mr. Odinga said that the election rigged and so the results were not fair.
Riots erupted after the elections. Kenyans with rifles ran through the streets and some of them set buildings on fire. This was a surprise, because Kenya is normally a very stable country. Many Kenyans are leaving their homes in the cities and going to the country because of the rioting.
Kenya is made up of different ethnic and tribal groups. President Kibaki is from the Kikuyu tribe and Mr. Odinga is from the Luo tribe. These two tribes have lived peacefully together, but this time members of the tribes are fighting each other over the election.
Other countries are trying to help solve the crisis. President John Kufuor of Ghana who is also chairman of the African Union will meet with both sides to see if a compromise between them can be reached.
I'm Michelle and that's what happened in the world this week.
Think you understand the chaos in Kenya? Test your savvy in Just the facts!
Photo: AP/Darko Bandic
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