The West urges Kenya’s factions to come together

The sudden escalation of the violence in relatively peaceful Kenya has shocked the international community. A hundred thousand people are now said to be homeless. The European Union and the United States are considering sending a joint mission to Kenya to try to find a solution.

The German Ambassador in Kenya, Walter Lindner, said it was clear from his talks with the opposition leader Raila Odinga that he did not want violence either.

Lindner said he had also discussed the situation with Dr Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of South Africa, in Nairobi, on his own personal peace mission.

Dr Tutu said humanity was being called into question by acts like the burning to death of frightened children.

Even those closest to the situation know something has to be done fast before one of Africa’s most stable economies is irreparably damaged.

A coalition government is one of the suggestions from Washington and Brussels.

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