Kenya news: violence due to poverty

I often hear people asking why Africa is such a violent place, why there's so much war and fighting. There's usually a subtle undertone that suggests a certain savagery, Africa being 'uncivilised' and a 'big black hole' that sucks aid and money on a constant basis because people just can't get along.

The violence in many developing nations doesn't come down to skin colour, or a particular race being more or less prone to aggression than another. It isn't really about greed, or a lack of 'civilisation' and order. Often it isn't even completely tribal, as is suggested to be the root cause in Kenya's recent elections. Mostly, it comes from poverty. People are poor. And when you are poor, it is only human to do whatever you can to get yourself out of that straining situation.

It's hard to imagine living with the reality of extreme poverty. Sure, most of us have struggled at some point or another in paying a bill, or being able to afford a new TV or party dress. It's frustrating - perhaps we look at our neighbour with envy and the thought that life just isn't fair. Some of us may have even gone without the odd meal, or done the 40 famine to show our empathy with those that go without regular meals for most of their lives. And it's usually on this basis that we pass judgment.

But we don't really know what it's like to live every day without a full stomach, or to watch our children suffer and die because a doctor is too far away or medicines too expensive. We have hope that when we get sick, we will be cared for or that an end to hardship won't be further away than the next pay packet. In Kenya, most people live without this hope. And while violence in any form cannot be condoned or deemed in any way acceptable, it's not entirely surprising.

So while parts of Africa, and indeed Kenya, might not be the most peaceful places on this earth it doesn’t mean that these countries should be left or ignored, or condemned as pockets of savagery where no matter what is done there will always be trouble. One of the most effective solutions to violence is a real understanding of the cause, and sustainable aid that really makes a difference and a dent in reducing poverty.

http://www.oxfam.org/en/programs/emergencies/kenya_political_crisis