The Kenyan Violence was NOT related to Islam?

In a few previous posts I have discussed the violence in Kenya, noting in particular the burning of a church with dozens of people purposefully trapped inside.   The news reported the burning and other violent acts but it was surprisingly quiet about who was engaging in the violence and precisely what the motives were.  This led me to ask a friend who I knew had been in Kenya for a time and who I knew was still receiving updates.  In fact, it was through these updates (from Christian missionaries) that I first became aware of the church burning.

At long last, a reply was received.  Here it is:

Yes, Churchs have been burnt, a catholic priest murdered, schools destroyed and burnt, houses burnt as well. This has nothing to do with faith but tribal. Churches perceived to be predominantly belongs to other communities targeted are burnt by other communities fighting them. It has no relationship  with Christian and Musilims affairs. [sic]

As these are Christians who are actually on the ground in Kenya (though, as I understand it, not in the area where the church with all the people inside it was burnt down), I am inclined to accept their perspective.

It does leave me wondering about the document that has come to light which indicates an agreement between the candidate who lost the election and certain Muslim groups where in exchange for support from them, this gent would work towards Sharia Law in Kenya.  That is a pretty unnerving reality, if genuine.  You can read more about that in my blog post, here.  One of the links in that entry has a copy of the document in question.

Reading through Kenyan commentary, one gets the impression that some Kenyans believe the document to be faked in an effort to shipwreck the challenger’s election.  Other Kenyans disagree.  Where that actually stands, I don’t personally know.  There certainly hasn’t been any investigation that I am aware of by the American press into that question, which I’m sad to say, is pretty typical.

So, with the violence fading away for now, this looks like something we’ll just have to keep our eyes on.