Letter: Case for Kenya

Sir: The picture and caption with Mary Braid's article "Moi stirs up Kenya's tribal strife" (30 May) are misleading in claiming that 19 people were killed in ethnic violence in Sipili on 29 May. No such violence and deaths took place on that day.

President Moi had foreseen that multiparty democracy may divide Kenyans along ethnic lines and in exercising his freedom of expression warned Kenyans about it. This unfortunately has turned out to be the case. He however accepted the eventuality and won two elections under it. Blaming him for warning Kenyans of the possible negative effects of a multiparty system shows a failure to appreciate the contextual differences in the application and result of the system.

It appears Mary Braid has been paying too much attention to some ethnic as opposed to broadly based non-governmental organisations, otherwise she would have obtained the views of other communities involved and also known of the current police/army operation to disarm the Pokots and Marakwets. Throughout his vice-presidency and presidency, Moi has been consistent in calling for the unity and peaceful co-existence of all Kenyan communities and faulting him on this is unfair and only serves selfish ends.

MWANYENGELA NGALI

High Commissioner

Kenya High Commission

London W1