NAIROBI, KENYA: It’s only a one-night
pit stop before continuing on to Tanzania. My driver from the airport
talks non-stop about the threat of terrorism. “Every week there’s some kind of terrorist attack. Last week in
Eastleigh, a terrorist threw a hand grenade into a crowded restaurant killing
six and injuring dozens more. The
government seems helpless to do anything about it, and when they do round up
the potential perpetrators, mostly Muslims, they’re accused of discriminating
against the Muslim population. Some believe President Uhuru and his Deputy Ruhu
are actually personally involved. They might be right. The President and his
Deputy are being charged by the ICC for crimes against humanity for
orchestrating large-scale violence following the 2007 elections. They want the
world to believe that they are indispensible to the West in their fight against
Muslim extremism. I think the two may have even been behind the Westgate Mall
terrorist attack. There are just so many unanswered questions there.” I
mention that I had read that Nairobi is one of the ten most dangerous cities
in the world. “It’s true,” he
replies. “We all live looking over our
shoulder.” We arrive at the heavily guarded hotel where I go through
airport level security screening, sans removing of my shoes. I have time the
next day and would like to see some of the city, but a quick gander outside the
hotel compound reminds me that this is not where I want to end my trip.
