Madam, - So far the conflict in Kenya has resulted in the deaths of about 1,000 innocent people and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of others from their homes and livelihoods. This horrendous situation may have been sparked by a disputed election, but other deep-seated grievances appear to be fuelling the conflict.
It is to be hoped that Kenya's national and local political leaders, together with representatives of civil society, will behave in the interests of the common good to end the conflict and bring about national reconciliation. Otherwise, the situation is at risk of spiralling out of control, destroying the country, as happened to Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s.
I believe that what is needed politically is the formation of a Kenyan government of national unity, comprising all the opposing political groupings, until such time that a new, free, fair, and transparent election can be conducted in a peaceful environment, and overseen by the international community. Should an internal resolution of the conflict fail, a plan should be put in place to establish an international peace-enforcement and peace-keeping force that would be able to intervene, as ECOMOG did in Liberia in the 1990s, but in time to prevent total devastation of the country.
I believe the conflict has already cost the Kenyan economy more than it has received in development aid in recent years. Some will conclude that additional aid is now required to address the damage done. While humanitarian aid must be made available to displaced people, development aid must be provided only in accordance with this principle: development aid can only have lasting and sustainable benefits to developing countries which possess good, honest governance that operates in accordance with the common good for the benefit of all citizens.
The citizens of developing countries deserve no less, in order to have the chance to realise their full potential, as should be their right. - Yours, etc,
Dr L.F. LACEY, South Strand, Skerries, Co Dublin.