Kenya is poised on the edge of a knife. Opposition to the current "President", Mr Mwai Kibaki, has started to slack, but has not stopped. The past three weeks has seen violence, bloodshed, death, and destruction in this East African country.

China Post reports last Friday that the opposition will continue their protests with economic boycotts and strikes:

Their protests weakened by a harsh police crackdown and weary supporters, Kenya's embattled opposition said Friday they would turn to economic boycotts and strikes to keep up pressure against President Mwai Kibaki, whom they accuse of rigging the country's recent election.

Opposition spokesman Salim Lone vowed a third and final day of rowdy rallies, in which at least 10 people have died, would continue nationwide Friday.

Next, he said, the opposition would urge consumers "boycott companies owned by hard-liners who are around Mr. Kibaki" and work with unions "to organize strikes in selected industries." He declined to give details.

This is an important development in sub-Sahara Africa, and not just because of the violence (which is important in, and of, itself). This election was important, because it was expected to help cement democracy in Kenya, and establish a model for the rest of Africa.

Elections are not the end-all, be-all of democracy. I know that U.S. media outlets would have us think that waving purple fingers are the endgame of democracy. Of course, the purple fingers and ballots are mediagenic. But there's more to a stable, mature democracy than voting. The former Soviet Union held elections. Saddam Hussein's Iraq held elections. Iran holds elections. Apartheid-era South Africa held elections. The list goes on.

What's equally important are the transparency of the elections, as well as the peaceful handover of executive power after an election that signals a mature, vibrant democracy.

Mr Kibaki blew the opportunity for developing Kenya's democracy. He blew the opportunity to for Kenya to be a model African country. Instead, he'd rather consolidate power, stuff ballot boxes, and appoint cronies to cabinet / ministry positions.

The Economist has an excellent series on what's going on in Kenya, what it means internationally, and why its important to the United States. If interested, I would suggest reading this article, and this article.