Kenyans fight political crisis with humor

I have to hand it to the Kenyans for finding some really innovative ways to protest the ineptitude of their government. First, women's groups in Kenya organized a sex boycott to force their squabbling politicians to focus on their country's problems, now the political mess has spawned a satirical puppet show, which is becoming the hottest thing on Kenyan TV.

The XYZ Show, which debuted this week, lampoons the nation's politicians. At first you wouldn't think that Kenyan politics would be a laughing matter - allegations that President Mwai Kibaki rigged his reelection, sparked weeks of bloody fighting between his faction and supporters of challenger Raila Odinga in late 2007; the two sides only averting a likely civil war when a power-sharing deal was struck that installed Mr. Odinga as prime minister.

But since then political infighting between their sides has ground the country to a halt, and the actions of the politicians seems ready-made for lampooning, from Pres. Kibaki calling a press conference to deny he'd taken a second wife, to PM Odinga complaining about the lack of a red carpet and private toilet for him at a state function. Both naturally became fodder for The XYZ Show.

As the AP article notes, African leaders have traditionally taken a dim view of their actions being used for political satire, but the owners of Citizen, the TV channel airing The XYZ Show, has pledged to stand behind the program and give it editorial freedom in its content. How long Kenyans will be content to just laugh at the buffoonery of their political leaders, though, is another question.