The truth is that tribal tensions flare in Kenya only when they are fanned by politicians seeking power. The average Kenyan does not care. We go to school and church together, live side by side and intermarry without much ado. I always find it interesting that people point out that Kenyatta was the president from 1963 to 1978 and conveniently fail to point out that Moi (a non-kikuyu) was president from 1978 to 2002. The strategic omission is only made so as to support the illusion that Kikuyus have somehow maintained a dynasty since independence. Unfortunately, when the dust settles it is only the very poor particularly those in the slum areas who will be left destitute. Pawns in the tug-of-war for political power.

Geshi, Nairobi,

If my (Manyata) is burning do one really care about his or her neighbours!

Kenya was one of the big brains behind the distraction of my Homeland (Somalia) and your president (Moi) than was enjoying every bit of it.

So I SAY GO ON Odinga and get your right...

Majid Ombio, London, Uk

Mr Kibaki was sworn as a president with the hour after he was declared the winner.Where has he been for past 4-5 days.He should be out on the street to control the violence as he was on the street begging for the votes.

D.K. Shah, harrow, uk

While I agree to some extent the existance of tribal rivary among the Luo and Kikuyu tribes , this is common not only in Africa but all over the world. In the U.K you have Scottish, Welsh.. e.t.c they differ one can tell by there colour, skin or even eyes. Same with the USA , you have the Red-Necks and the Yankees, this reflects itself in the presidential elections. Hard to deny , in the developing world democracy is a new phenomenon, in which hard to achieve perfection due to poor resources to establish institutions. The bellies of the people are empty, they need to be fed first in order to accept democracy. The Mau-Mau freedom fighters were Kikuyus - they had an upperhand in the struggle for independence. The first president was Kenyatta -a kikuyu. In that he flourishes his ethnic followers in terms of business, farms,education and civil services jobs opportunity. That lead to the continued prosperity among Kikuyus as compared wth the Luos, Luhiya, kamba ethnics .Envied by others.

Mohamed Basmeir, Messachussets, USA

Tribes and tribalism are racist concept used to describe Black African ethnic nationalities. When it concerns Black Africans, a people of over 5 million and even up to 40 million are described as tribes, but when it comes to white people, they are ethnic nationalities.Each of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria(Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) is larger in population than all the Scandinavian states(Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark) put together. Whereas the Scandinavian countries each have separate national identities despite the fact that all (apart from Finland) speak different dialects of one language, Nigeria ethnic nationalities with populations ranging from 5 to 40 million each and completely separate languages and cultures are lumped together as tribes that make up one country.Clearly, we Black Africans are to blame for failing to redefine ourselves! Despite having achieved independences since 50 years ago, we are still unable to totally decolonise our minds and our existence.

John Iteshi, London, UK

South Africa soon...........

Felix, Seattle, USA