Friday's Uneasy Peace

I went out again today. Most people ventured out of their houses in the Nairobi area. There's an uneasy calm. Public transport started running again. Businesses opened.

Everyone wore running shoes today. May not sound abnormal, but for a society that does everything in flip-flops, wearing athletic shoes to work or to the store is a major cultural shift! There were rumors that another rally would take place at city centre. Everyone knew that if it happened, violence would erupt again. No one wanted to get caught out in the open, thus the reason for the comfortable athletic shoes!

I ventured to Kibera today. It was a "no go" zone yesterday and probably what most of you saw on television. They burned tires. Police shot tear gas in the crowds. Police brought out the water cannon trucks to control the angry rioters.

Today was a different story. People strolled about in search of food and just happy for the short break from the violence.

It's been a long and exhausting day. I walked through a market that I frequent on the edge of Kibera. It's where I go find used clothes. The market is no longer there. Last night, the young men rioting burned it all down. Now, it's just acres of smoldering ash!

Stayed tuned for more updates...