Kenya is one of the most developed, prosperous, stable and democratic countries in Africa. It’s one of those countries that are a good example to other countries in the region. Well, until recently that is: after the recent elections, riots have broken out. The opposition leader (Raila Odinga) says that the current president (Mwai Kibaki), who won the elections, cheated.

The result? Massive riots.

The Times points out that Odinga is probably right: the elections were, mostly likely rigged. His supporters know it and refuse to acknowledge Kibaki’s rule. “Western diplomats said that there was undeniable evidence of fraud in counting the ballots, but that election officials had refused to recount them because they wanted to keep the government in power,” the newspaper adds.

Ever since the elections, Kenya has been subjected to tremendous riots: Odinga supporters haven’t just attacked governmental buildings, they’ve also looted shops. Kibaki, meanwhile, isn’t willing to let the rioters plunder his country and has sent in the army and police. The result? At this moment, 100 people have died in a violent manner.

Kibaki isn’t the only one who uses force against human beings though: supporters of the opposition have attacked members of his tribe, the Kikuyus. “In some areas, witnesses said that mobs were stopping cars, pulling out passengers and demanding identification cards to determine whether they were Kikuyu (one can often tell by the name). If so, they were killed,” the NYT reports.

As if that’s not enough, Agence France-Presse reported on Monday that “six Kikuyu people were hacked to death in Mombasa, on Kenya’s eastern coast.”

The most intense fighting is taking place in the country’s western part, which is a stronghold of Odinga. In that part of Kenya “a mix of hooliganism, political protest and ethnic violence has claimed dozens of lives. The police have responded by shooting looters on sight and forbidding people in Kisumu to leave home at night or walk around during the day in groups larger than two.”

It’s the question whether Kibaki is willing to retire to bring stability back to his country. If he isn’t, it could run completely out of hand and turn into a full scale civil war. That would be horrible both for Kenya and for Africa as a whole. The United Nations would we wise to stand by and to keep an eye on what’s happening. If necessary troops should be sent. In the meantime, Western governments – and African government – should try to talk to Kibaki. He has to resign. If he doesn’t, peace will be lost for years to come. What’s more, if he doesn’t resign, he’ll be nothing but a dictator (considering the fact that he lost the elections).