The road to democracy is filled with twists and hazards, but even with that realization, watching a budding democracy teeter on the brink of destruction is disheartening.

Kenya is considered a success story, economically and politically, but the current upheaval in that East African nation underscores the complexities in developing nations.

Beneath the surface lay ethnic tensions peculiar to that region and political rivalries that seem universal. The recent polls in Kenya have kicked up a wave of violence, with presidential challenger Raila Odinga and his backers charging incumbent Mwai Kibaki of fixing the election.

Unfortunately, the election also formed the front for a battle between the country's two principal ethnic groups — the Luo, supporters of Odinga, and the Kikuyu, who back Kibaki. The Luo, who have never held the presidency, were leading in early voting when Odinga's lead of nearly a million votes disappeared; reports of extraordinary turnout in Kibaki territory were cited as the reason, but opponents were doubtful — and furious.

Regional neighbors in the African union, as well as U.S. diplomats, should help Kibaki see the error of trying to cling to power in this way.

The Bush administration has lost no time in sending the right message by dispatching its senior Africa diplomat to the war zone: Jendayi Frazer, U.S. assistant secretary for African affairs. She wisely seeks to meet with both sides to encourage reconciliation.

As hopeless as that mission may sound to the cynic, Kibaki has built a legacy with reforms in government and growth in public education. It is possible that such an astute politician could be made to see the folly of throwing that all away and the wisdom of agreeing to a vote recount or some other settlement.

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