Wangari Maathai: War And ... Peace?

Should the international community have acted more quickly?
They could have applied more pressure. Two months was pretty long; one thousand people and over was too many. But the international community needs to be commended, because without it nothing would have happened. Many of us had tried to appeal to the two politicians to talk, but nobody was budging. They were very busy accusing each other, and the people on the ground were very busy killing each other.

Kenya was known as a stable, peaceful country. Can it regain that reputation?
Kenya was peaceful, yes, by comparison to what was happening around us. But we had these unresolved issues. They are like a simmering fire that just needs somebody to come and light a match. And that's what politicians did during the elections. But Kenyans are resilient. As long as they can achieve genuine reconciliation and justice is done, and people don't feel like issues have been swept under the carpet again, I am sure that the country can turn around and surprise everybody.

What ' s the lesson for other African nations?
First, we're not going to go anywhere if we continue to have imperial powers invested in individuals. As Africans develop their own version of democratic governance, it's very important to recognize that you have to share power, that you must be inclusive, and you must recognize diversity. Second, peace is a very slippery commodity. It can disappear within minutes.

© 2008