The recent violent events following the aftermath of elections in the traditionally peaceful East African country of Kenya are not only disheartening, but a negation of the democratic wave sweeping across the continent.

What started as a well organised and peaceful voting process suddenly turned violent as soon as the vote counting process went pear shaped. The opposition scare became a little unbearable to the establishment. This unwelcome development prompted the adoption of unorthodox tactics of counting and tallying votes reminiscent of the brutal dictatorships and banana republics of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Kenya now presents a political calamity and a scenario too often replicated in many African countries. Kenya used to be highly respected by African standards, a beacon of African economic renaissance. It was undoubtedly one of the rare edifices of prosperity, stable economic growth of more than five percent, peace and stability - an enviable exception to the cupidity, corruption, violence and civil disobedience that has characterised much of Africa in the past decade.

It is a fact that Kenya will rise from the ashes of the current political mess, but at what cost? Some predict that the reputation of Kenya has been once again put of the political alter and only seismic political changes from the bald and committed can rescue this proud nation from the current quandary.

Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki will go down in history as a man who stole the election from resurgent opposition ODM leader Raila Odinga; this perception will only change if the former offers a credible political compromise.

It may not be known for sure as to who won the elections in Kenya albeit the court of public opinion being strongly swayed towards the underdog opposition leader Raila Odinga. President Mwai Kibaki may well have declared himself winner of the election but his legitimacy will be hotly disputed, especially given the fact that he has refused to allow an independent inspection of the vote counting process. A lot of people have died as a result of this disputed election.

It is no coincidence that Raila Odinga is bitter as his own father, Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga, a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence, Kenya's first vice-president and later opposition leader. The elder Odinga statesman was once a victim of political manipulation under Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta. President Mwai Kibaki officially won' by 47% to 44% for

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