Chelsy Davy stranded in Kenya as violence continues

What was supposed to be a relaxing return home has turned into a holiday in hell for Chelsy Davy. The postgraduate student was supposed to return to Leeds University this weekend to take exams and resume her studies but instead is holed up in her resort hotel with her family in the hopes of avoiding the continuing violence brought about by last week's contested presidential elections in Kenya. Hundreds of people have been killed during rioting and it's become dangerous to travel in the cities and international fears are growing that the situation in Kenya may soon become similar to the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

Chelsy and her family traveled to the resort to spend Christmas together before the violence began. Now with flights to and from Kenya canceled and traveling by car dangerous Chelsy and her family are among the many holidaymakers stranded in Kenya. According to one local, "Things here are very tense. The police are trying to break up gangs before they do real damage and tourists are keeping to their hotels and villas."

Earlier in the week, before the violence reached the area, Chelsy was photographed outside her hotel on the beach with her friends celebrating New Years Eve before violent protests broke out in the area where she and her family are staying. Onlookers say that Chelsy had been enjoying her Christmas holiday and was often spotted on the beach and in the town’s shops and Internet cafes before the violence reached the area. Sources say that the hotel itself is relatively safe although leaving the building would be dangerous. In spite of this, friends say that Chelsy is keeping a cool head and joking that at least she gets more time to vacation. Says a friend, "Chelsy was due to fly back early this week but a lot of flights have been grounded or canceled because of the riots in Kenya. Chelsy is very chilled about it, though, and says it means more time for vodka and sunshine."

Her cool head should come as no surprise; Zimbabwean born Chelsy is no stranger to civil unrest and outright violence having 2 years ago reacted just as calmly when she was held at gun point and mugged during a late night visit to a local cafe in Cape Town, SA. Cooler heads prevailing aside, the situation in Kenya is very bad and it's not known when the violence which has claimed so many lives will end, much less when Chelsy, who has exams beginning on the 7th, and the other stranded tourists will be able to leave the country safely.

Said a friend at Leeds, "We were expecting her back over the weekend but she's had to change her plans because of the troubles. There's been some violence and unrest where she's staying and it's seen as a risk getting to the airport by road. So she's trying to work out the best way to get back. But at the moment she is effectively stranded.

"Chelsy has been sunbathing and relaxing in Kenya but she has also been working quite hard. She is a very bright girl and wants to get back to Leeds and work hard; she is definitely going back to Leeds. She is working on an essay that counts towards her final grade and she's determined to do well.

"The course isn't an easy one but Chelsy is quite academic and one of the best students in the class. She has spent a lot of the holiday reading and writing her essay. She joked that if she can't get out of Kenya, she will miss the deadline for it."

From the looks of the current situation in Kenya Chelsy may have plenty of extra time to work on her essay.

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