U.K.: Turmoil in Kenya

The Times of London today has an article on Kenyan athletes' involvement in the unrest following the recent election there. Filed from Nairobi, the article reveals that Kenyan athletes, most of whom are members of the Kalenjin tribe, have been involved in organizing raids against members of the neighboring Kikuyu tribe who support President Mwai Kibaki. The article quotes the director of the International Crisis Group in support of its argument early on in the piece, and later it includes a denial from the chairman of Athletics Kenya. The reporter offers a comprehensive view of the problem, detailing the economic gains and prestige successful Kenyan runners bring to their country and the reasons their climate is hospitable to training.

The fact that The Times gave this article a Nairobi dateline suggests that they are on top of their international coverage, reporting on the conflict from the capital of Kenya. The article does not go into too much political detail or assume much background knowledge of the reader, aside from a basic understanding that skirmishes have resulted following the recent election. It is long enough to offer a unique angle on the issue, but short enough to retain the interest of the reader. By focusing on the athletes' supposed involvement in the skirmishes, the article gives it a Western slant, as Kenyan runners are arguably the best-known citizens of that country to the average European and American.