Madam, - I thoroughly agree with Sive Bresnihan (January 8th) regarding the sweeping statements made by John O'Shea of Goal on Kenya's post-election upheaval (January 5th).
To tar Kenya with the same brush (tainted with references to genocide) which he uses on Somalia and Darfur is nothing short of fostering the image that all Africa is in absolute chaos. In doing so he is misleading the public. Kenya is not, as Mr O'Shea suggests "seeing the beginnings of a similar [ Darfur type] failure" and it is reckless and insulting to suggest this. Jomo Kenyatta's philosophies kick-started Kenya's launch as a successful, vibrant and confident country, united despite its ethnic divides and small upsets along the way.
I spend much time in Kenya and I can assure Mr O'Shea that it certainly does not need the intervention of the "international community", "UN peacekeepers", "Nato", or "European battlegroups", as he seems to suggest.
It is up to Kenya to hammer out a solution to its own internal problems and, knowing the country as I do, it will.
In inviting John Kofuor, head of the African Union and president of Ghana, the opposing sides have agreed to mediation from within Africa.
His arrival heralds a positive move towards a bright new day when it will be commonplace to see Africa handling African affairs. Yours, etc,
JAMES KENNY,
Toulon,
France.