This is an email from a friend of mine in Kenya. Most
Americans have heard almost nothing about the situation
there and would not understand it if we had. We are so
sheltered in our little room at the top of the pyramid
that is global politics. Take a moment to consider
what's going on in one of the most "western" countries
in Africa. The slum areas she mentions are larger than
Abilene, and I lived only hours from the cities and
townships mentioned in her email. Another friend wrote
me today informing me that the Peace Corps (whom he
work for) is not allowing him to return to Kenya until
things settle down. The problem there is that in Africa
"peace" is relative. As one writer said "Africa is when
you stop counting the bodies." Please pray for Kenya.
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Hi Friends -
Happy New Year!
As the situation in Kenya continues to worsen, I
wanted to write and ask you to be praying for our
nation and its people. The Presidential election
was last Thursday (27th). There was record voter
turn-out and peace & calm all throughout that day.
We were definitely not anticipiating the chaos
that has now resulted!
During Friday as votes were being counted and results
were starting to come out, we were still experiencing
relative peace. Votes have to be hand-counted on site
before being brought to Nairobi to the ECK, so we
expected it to take a day or so before hearing the
final result. The opposition (Raila Odinga) was leading
during the early stages of reporting (as well as during
the pre-election polls). Then, on Saturday, results
started showing Kibaki (the current President) in the
lead, and crowds starting getting angry. In Nairobi,
the slums (Kibera, Kangamee (trash town for those of
you who know it by that name), Mutharae, Eastleigh,
etc) were the worst areas. Odinga supporters in other
areas of Kenya (Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Narok, etc)
also started protesting. Odinga's party (ODM) accused
Kibaki's party (PNU) of rigging the ballots
(specifically, ODM has accused PNU of stuffing extra
PNU votes into ballot boxes at certain sites). By
Sunday afternoon, the ECK officially announced Kibaki
as the winner and within the hour he had himself sworn
in for his 2nd term. ODM claims that Kibaki did not
win and that this government is illegimate. ODM
supporters swarmed the streets on Sunday evening, and
began burning houses & stores and throwing stones,
and then looting those houses & stores..specifically
in slum areas and the up-country cities.
On Sunday evening, Odinga declared that he would have
his own swearing-in ceremony on Monday afternoon at
Uhuru Park (downtown Nairobi). When the time
came on Monday, his supporters were turned away by
police, tear gas, gun shots, etc and the ceremony
did not happen. Burning & looting & stone throwing
continued in the slum areas, and rioters up-country
made roadblocks with fires & trees and also continued
attacking their neighbors. (ODM supporters were
burning the houses of the PNU supporters).
Odinga declared that he would have an official rally
on Thursday (tomorrow) in downtown Nairobi. Kibaki
and the police have banned this rally, but Odinga
plans to continue. He says it's his right to have
an official meeting, and the police should control
violence, but shouldn't prevent the meeting. The
country is very tense right now as no one knows what
to expect out of tomorrow's meeting. So, please
pray for peace and for these leaders
to enter into negotiations.
Specifically, we are fine. We are in a safe area of
town and behind big walls. I haven't heard gun shots
near us; people who are closer to Kibera have heard
them constantly (near Junction & Habesha). We have
plenty of food, cooking gas, petrol for our cars,
water, etc. and we feel comfortable driving around
our area. But, we haven't driven further than village
market or the Runda neighboorhood (about 15 minutes)
since last Wednesday (1 week). We don't feel
endangered where we are, but we don't feel comfortable
venturing very far either. Nakumatt, Village Market
stores, Java House (a popular coffee house), etc has
been open sporadically, so we have stayed stocked on
supplies. But, now, supplies are running low throughout
the country. Fuel, phone credit, produce & bread are
all hard to find as supply trucks can't navigate
throughout the country.
I talked to Edwin and Duncan today. Edwin says that
things are 'bad' where he is. Rioters have been
attacking his house at night...mad at him personally
because he is a preacher and they don't like his
message. He now has police guarding his house and
escorting him as he travels about. So, he feels ok
now. Also, rioters tried to burn Rehema, but police
are now guarding Rehema and they have put up electric
wire around the fence. He now feels that they are
relatively safe as well. They still have a bit of food
as well. Near him, Bungoma town is the worst, people
being shot daily.However, stores & homes are also
being burnt in the market areas (like Mumias, Nzoia, etc).
None of Edwin's people have been hurt. But, he is
definitely concerned about the rally tomorrow and
what will result.
Until today, the PNU supporters have been relatively
quiet. But, Duncan told me today that tension is rising
in Limuru and the Kikuyu (Kibaki's tribe) people are
ready to strike back. Cornel & his wife Irene are both
Luo (Odinga's tribe) and they are living among the
Kikuyu in Limuru. Duncan told me today that they have
been staying at his house so he can protect them
(Duncan is Kikuyu), but he told me today that they
aren't safe anymore. So, he is moving them into our
cottage at Bracken (a retreat center). Bracken is still
safe, Duncan said. It's definitely becoming a tribal
issue (Luo, from Kisumu & Western vs Kikuyu, from
Central Kenya). Duncan also said that Cornel's brother
is missing and the 7 people that he was with are
confirmed dead; they were in Nakuru. Duncan said they
are still able to get food in Limuru, but phone credit
& fuel are no where to be found..the same is basically
true here in Nairobi.
Eldoret, Kisumu, and Mombasa are possibly the most
violent areas. AIMAIR & MAF have been evacuating
missionaries out of Eldoret for the past 2 days.
All missionaries & westerners in the Western
province would have to fly out of Eldoret (Kisumu
airport is shut down). And, my other missionary friends
tell me that their co-workers who are housing refugees
are being threatened (with burning) and many are being
persecuted just for being Christians. This reality is
really just coming out today...in the wake of the AOG
church & refugees inside being burned in Eldoret
yesterday. The paper today said that 75,000 people
have been displaced, but I'm confident that's a low
figure.
So, all this to say, pray for our country! Pray for
the rally tomorrow, pray for the violence to stop,
pray for these political leaders to step up and talk
together and together encourage their nation to end
the violence. And, don't worry about us. :)
Just pray for our friends!
So, we are now looking at a possible parallel
government or even coup tomorrow as well as the
beginnings of genocide. But, our reality is that we
feel fine behind our big walls, we are basically
immune to these struggles, and we've been watching
a lot of tv shows. Now we are starting to feel
helpless as the situation continues to worsen.
Earlier we were just waiting it out, but now we want
to help our friends, but we don't really know what
to do. Pray peace will be restored immediately!
Thank you!
Blessings,
K
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