The Civil War in Kenya

Sara P.

What is my research topic? What are keywords I used to research?

• My research topic is the Civil War in Kenya.
• Some keywords I used to help my research are: Kikuyu, Luo, Civil War-Africa, Kenyan Politics, Jomo Kenyatta, and Kenyan Conflict.

What does Civil War mean? What is the definition or description of a Civil War?

• Civil War means when a country breaks apart, and starts a war together
• A Civil War can be over any sort of conflict.
• It can be North against South, East against West, etc.
•  A good description would be a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country.
• Such as the Luo and the Kikuyu.

Background Information

• Luo are NOT Bantu
• Kikuyu and Luo are fighting over religion
• Kenya's first president was Kikuyu
• Jomo Kenyatta was a prime minister of Kenya, then president
• Government interaction with the war has been small since is death.

Why is Kenya's Civil War a problem or issue in Africa?

•  It has killed many Kenyans, and continues to arise ethnic problems in Africa.
• Such as on January 1-4 more than three hundred people were killed.
• It frightens many Kenyans, and they flee their homes.
•  The tribes don't realize they're hurting other people who could be their friends if they would stop fighting.
• It's not worth the struggle if you ask me.

How does a weak government affect the people who live in Africa?

• A weak government has an immense effect on people who live in Kenya.
•  Most people think Kenya is at war  over ethnic tribes, and yes this is a main cause, but an even bigger cause is the weakness of Kenya's national legislature.
•  Many problems arise daily, and with all my research I've seen nothing of government interaction with the war.
•  If the government would step in, and reason with it's people, this whole problem might have been avoidable.
• The government should know it's gone way to far, and it needs to stop.

What does the rest of the world (NOT Africans) think about Kenyatta's death? What is the global reaction to Kenyatta's death?

• I think people don't know what to think about Kenyatta's death, because he was a good leader, and a lot has happened since his death.
• Some people may say his death helped his people (his Luo people), but I don't believe that.
•  I wonder if an outside government force could come in, and reinforce Kenyatta's strategies, so the Luo would be satisfied that it wasn't a Kikuyu force.
• I strongly believe this could help end the Civil War.
•  I have no idea what the global reaction is to Kenyatta's death. I do think it could be somewhat close to my reaction.

What can be done to help the problem of war outbreaks? What is being done to correct outbreaks of war?

• Outbreaks of war can be easily avoided by compromise.
•  This is a strategy when each person or side gives up something equal in value to come to a conclusion that makes both people happy.
• Sudden outbreaks of war are troubling, and sometimes unexpected.
•  Peace efforts all over the world are being made to stop these occurrences.
•  People should try communicating to come to a satisfying answer.

What is my personal opinion of Civil War? How do I react and feel about War?

• I think any kind of war is dumb.
•  Especially Civil War, people from the same country fighting each other?
• People who might be friends, and even family!
•  Like I said it DUMB!
•  People should be able to talk over their problems and differences.
•  Shooting each other doesn't do any good.
•  You just eventually lose hope, and give up.
•  And you don't usually feel better about it any way.
•  I always think about why people celebrate when the war is over?
•  It's a number of reasons, but I know one of them!
•  They know it's dumb and could have been avoided.

Bibliography and Work Cited

This webpage was created for educational purposes by: Sara P.

Made on:March 20, 2008 02:02 PM

Mrs. Jaubert-Smith's 6th Grade Pre-Ap Social Studies Class

Forbes Middle School

Georgetown, Texas