Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Story of Charles

Charles is currently in Form 2 (10th Grade) at Akiba School. Watch this video as he shares his story. (special thanks to previous visiting photographers: Graham Clark, Meredith Copley, Philip Brasher, and Michelle Flores).


A Day in Muranga

I traveled yesterday to Murang’a for the first time since being back in Kenya. Central Province has been largely unaffected by the crisis and it was refreshing to be able to breathe a little fresh air outside of Nairobi. The Central region of Kenya is beautiful, and this time of year cloud cover on Mount Kenya is scant. We could see the towering summit of the snow-peaked mountain from over 100 kilometers away. It was a wonderful backdrop for the forests of blue gum trees, coffee plantations, and small farm holdings of bananas, mangoes, and beans. In the hill country around Kigetu-ini we met with about 30 rural farmers, many of whom speak only Kikuyu. Their lives have an admirable simplicity and somehow the farmers seem both proud and humble at the same time. They’ve been praying about the conflict in Kenya, but their more immediate concern has been a few brown spots on their passion fruit plants. Each farmer has 58 passion fruit plants and they’ve been nourishing them for the past few months and watching the plants grow. As we meet with the farmers each month, Horace and a pair of local agriculturalists offer advice. The farmers should begin harvesting around May.

Good News From Gatina

Gatina Village in Kawangware is an amalgamation of tribes, mostly a mix of Kikuyu, Somali, Kamba, Luhya, and Luo. Despite its ethnic diversity, Gatina has a strong sense of community. Many of the families have lived in this section of the slum for several generations. There is a strong commitment to peace, and so far Gatina has avoided the clashes that have consumed Kibera, Mathare, and other parts of Kawangware. On Tuesday, villagers were worried about rumors that gangs of outsiders were planning to come and destroy the peace by raiding and looting businesses and homes in Gatina. After the murder/assassination of an opposition MP all shops and schools in Gatina closed for the day. Some villagers took up weapons to defend their homes in case of any attack. So far though things have been very calm. Work continues at Light and Power as normal and the guys are glad to hang out, laugh together, and just make paper bags. We receive reports and security updates before visiting the Centre, but so far there have been very few concerns. The community appreciates our presence, and life continues as people of various tribes, though often very poor, continue to work side by side. . . In the current climate, that indeed is good news.

The Latest from the U.S. Embassy

Situation Security Update - January 29, 2008 PM* Several official Americans have been temporarily relocated from Kisumu to Nairobi.* The widespread violence that has affected parts of Kenya since President Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 27 election has subsided in some areas. However, a recent outbreak of protests in Nairobi and violent civil unrest in Kisumu, Nakuru and Naivasha demonstrates the potential for spontaneous violence in the current political climate.* Americans in Kenya should be prepared for a large police presence and potential outbreaks of hostile clashes between police and demonstrators, and between rival groups of demonstrators.* American citizens should avoid all travel to the cities of Kisumu, Nakuru and Naivasha and defer non-essential travel to the remaining portions of Kenya's three provinces -- Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley -- which are most affected by the unrest. Road travel in western Kenya remains unsafe. Sporadic illegal road blocks by gangs or criminal elements make travel risky.* On January 24, former UN Secretary Kofi Annan met with President Kibaki and opposition leader Odinga. On January 29, Annan, Kibaki and Odinga met for a second time. Kibaki and Odinga each selected three-person negotiating teams and talks towards a political solution to the crisis are now underway. The situation is still very tense and violence could break out at any time, depending on how the negotiations proceed and how the public reacts to unfolding events.* American citizens in Nairobi should avoid Kibera, and other economically disadvantaged parts of the city, and the Uhuru Park area, venues for most of the political demonstrations and rallies. Sporadic violence in Nairobi continues. On January 29, the member of parliament for Embakasi constituency in eastern Nairobi was murdered by unknown assailants. This criminal act has provoked violent protests in the constituency, which adjoins Kibera slum and also includes a number of ethnically mixed, low-income areas near the international airport.
* American citizens residing in Kenya should continue to assess their own safety and security situations and carefully weigh the risks of travel within Kenya.* The roads leading to the airports in Nairobi and Mombasa are open and Kenya's international airports (Jomo Kenyatta in Nairobi and Moi in Mombasa) are operating normally. Seats are available for international flights out of Kenya. Domestic flights are also operating.* Americans should avoid nighttime road travel, including the roads to/from JKIA and Wilson airports as these roads are subject to closure by police and/or disruption by demonstrators.* For the near future, intermittent (and at times violent) protest demonstrations are likely to continue, arising quickly and without advance notice. American citizens should avoid all demonstrations and protests since even protests intended to be peaceful can turn violent.* The situation in Kenya is likely to remain volatile for the immediate future and U.S. citizens should, therefore, check the U.S. Embassy Nairobi website at http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/warden_messages.html for current information about the situation in Kenya.* Americans living or traveling in Kenya are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. See also the Kenya Travel Alert and Kenya Travel Warning at http://travel.state.gov for the latest security information.* There have been no reports of injuries to American citizens since the election crisis began.

Is It Safe?

What is safe, really? . . .Under normal circumstances, there are always risks to living in Nairobi. Normally, my biggest concern is trying to avoid the unseen microbes that don’t get along with my body. The next one is making sure that my wallet doesn’t “fall out of my pocket” when riding on a matatu - so far it’s never happened! Those are serious concerns though. There have always been security risks to living in Nairobi, and I’ve never felt completely ‘safe’ here. There is always a bit of tension and unease. . .

The neighborhood I live in is considered by most Kenyans to be “extremely safe.” The areas Amber, Anne, and I work in are generally considered by Kenyans to be “mostly safe” during daylight hours, or in some cases up until 9 p.m. The current crisis has changed things a bit, but as far as a sense of security, not much has changed. I try to monitor the situation daily before traveling into the slums or other potential “hot spots”, but am usually assured that there is very little to worry about. On scheduled demonstration days, I don’t venture out much. Schools and businesses are operating as normal throughout most parts of Nairobi and various international organizations continue their work. At certain times it does seem better to “shelter at home,” and I regularly hear stories from friends who’ve tasted tear gas in the city centre or who stay in more turbulent areas and have encountered gangs, seen neighbors’ homes burned or have been shot at by police. The U.S. embassy offers recommendations about travel in certain parts of the country and gives advice for dealing with the general security issues that Westerners may face in Kenya, but I haven’t heard of any resident missionaries or Westerners who are considering leaving.

So for now, a few extra precautions are just the “new normal” of what life is like in Kenya. . .Somebody put it this way (I don’t know who it was, but it was probably somebody pretty famous) - “to love is the greatest risk anyone ever takes.”

Loving Your Neighbor

“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
– Romans 13:10

Many of my friends in Kawangware sleep outside at night. They lie on the ground with machetes, afraid that a neighbor may come and set their house on fire while they sleep. They don’t want to be caught off-guard. They’re determined to defend their homes, their families, and their lives from the enemy that lives next door. In many parts of Kenya, next-door neighbors are killing one another. What was unimaginable one month ago, has become an every day reality. We hear it on the news and we see it in the streets. Men and women who for years have been close friends, who work together, whose children go to the same schools, who attend church together, who shop in the same markets and live side by side, have all of a sudden become enemies. How can this be?

Most Kenyans I speak with are in a state of shock. No one thought this could happen here. . .Maybe in Rwanda or Somalia or Sudan, but NOT in Kenya. . .

Since Independence, Kenya’s 42 tribes have lived together largely in peace. In fact, the country has been a model for social harmony and stability. It avoided the bloody civil wars and military dictatorships of many of its neighbors, and was deemed one of the most stable countries in Africa, with a progressive democracy and growing economy. There’s always been corruption, and Kenya has often been chided for it, but few real threats to peace. Kenyans are just not warlike.

But there is a growing sense of mistrust, fear, and suspicion among many here. Historical injustices have resurfaced in the hearts and minds of Luos: government corruption, inequitable land distribution in the post-colonial era, and the assassination of Luo politicians such as Tom Mboya. Many of the urban poor feel abused and forgotten by the government and there is a lot of bitterness and anger on both sides over the disputed presidential election. Decades-old land disputes are being fought out, peaceful protesters are repulsed by police, opportunistic criminals have found an excuse to cause mayhem, and gangs of youth roam the streets with a hatred that justifies the cruelest of acts. Within a few weeks, everything has changed.

Kenyans are known for their hospitality and hopefulness, their unrelenting optimism and profound joy, even in the midst of extreme hardship. Even now, most people are hopeful and optimistic that a resolution will be reached in the near future. Kofi Annan has suggested that the immediate issues of on-going violence and the disputed election can be addressed within four weeks. He’s also confident that if the leaders commit to the mediation process, underlying issues such as land distribution can be reasonably resolved within one year. So far the mediation seems to be going well. We are praying for the best. The U.S. embassy has issued alerts and warnings and had a town meeting the other night. They strongly advise against travel to certain areas, but said that evacuation of U.S. citizens is “nowhere on the radar.” They are just encouraging Americans in Kenya to exercise due caution and avoid troubled spots. . . So for now, we are continuing work here as we are able, erring on the side of caution, but above all just trying to be good neighbors.

The Worst Things I've Ever Heard

“The only good Kikuyu is a dead Kikuyu” – a former student at Akiba living in Kangemi

Thursday, January 24, 2008

How Our Ministry Partners Are Doing:

Akiba School is doing well. The school opened one week later than anticipated, and students continue to trickle in who had been stranded in various parts of the country. Otherwise, classes are going on as normal and the vast majority of teachers and pupils have returned.

The Computer College I work with next to Kibera has suffered during the post-election crisis. The school is located in St. Luke’s ACK church compound on the outskirts of Kibera, and multiple attempts have been made to break in to the compound to steal items from the church. The thieves seem to be targeting the computers in the school. There is also a nursery school and card making centre on the compound. So far nothing has been stolen, but the church’s night guard has been hospitalized since last week for injuries suffered in the attacks. St. Luke’s cannot afford to increase security and is considering closing or possibly moving the computer college. Several other churches in the neighborhood have been burnt to the ground, but so far St. Luke’s has not been threatened by arson.

At Light and Power, things have been relatively quiet. Immediately following the elections, several of the windows at the Centre were broken by rock-throwing youths, and a metal gate was stolen during the night. A Kikuyu-owned grocery store nearby the Centre was also raided. The attackers were rebelled by machetes and one of the boys who failed to escape was beaten to death. Other than these few late-night incidents, life in Gatina has been calm and peaceful. Residents are going about their business and Light and Power has been operating as normal. The guys at the Centre come from many different tribes and their unity has been an example to the community. They continue to debate and joke regularly about the elections.

At Planting Faith, we have postponed our meetings with the farmers. Normally we travel once a week to different sites around Thika, Muranga, and Mount Kenya. These areas are all calm and businesses and schools are operating without any problems. Some families from rival tribes, however, have left their homes in fear. We are waiting till things cool down a bit more, but will probably resume our meetings by the end of the month.

The News from This Side

The police have put the death count at 510 with nearly 250,000 people displaced, but the violence seems to have subsided in most areas of the country. Churches, NGOs and various businesses are donating resources and helping those who are homeless. Many organizations are stepping forward to call for peace and reconciliation.

In Nairobi things are relatively calm except in certain slums such as Kibera and Mathare. In these areas, protesters are held at bay on demonstration days by water canons, tear gas, and live bullets. Residents have resorted to destroying buildings and infrastructure and crime has increased exponentially. One of the largest churches in Nairobi, which was attended by the former President, was burned down, and residents of Kibera have destroyed the railway line running through the slum.

Banned protest rallies and demonstrations continue sporadically in downtown Nairobi. These protests are peaceful, but protesters are often dispersed with tear gas, and protest days are sometimes accompanied with business closings in the city centre and re-routing of public transportation.

On this side of the city, life continues as normal. Businesses and schools are all running and people are out and about shopping, running errands, and following their usual routine. The stores here are pretty much stocked, and I haven’t noticed any shortages.

Mediation with Kofi Annan began this week. The government and opposition have very different ideas, but most Kenyans seem hopeful that a resolution can be reached. The opposition wants the President to step down and is seeking new elections. Meanwhile, the government wants protests to stop and any election disputes to be resolved in the government appointed courts.

Learning Lessons from Kenya's Democracy

During this year’s election, Kenyans took voting seriously. Kenyans waited in line for an average of 4-5 hours in order to cast their vote. Some of my friends lined up at 5 a.m. in Kangemi and Kawangware and didn’t put their ballot in until lunchtime. Residents of Nairobi’s slums made enormous sacrifices in order to vote. Many spent nearly a month’s salary in order to travel to their home districts where they are registered to vote. Kenya had record voter turnout and many constituencies realistically reported over 80% participation. The voting process was smooth, orderly, and largely without incident. . .All of this makes the ridiculous corruption, rigging, and manipulation of the Presidential vote that much more difficult to bear. The majority of Kenyans that I speak with are so upset, they say that they will never vote again.

Was it Rigged?

In a very closely contested election, the opposition was winning by over 1 million votes with nearly 85% of votes reported. At this point the Electoral Commission of Kenya went behind closed doors for 24 hours and emerged to announce the incumbent President as the winner. President Kibaki was then hastily sworn in during an unofficial ceremony as all live media broadcasts in the country were outlawed.

Here are some of the flaws that have been identified in the election:

Over 100% voter turnout in some constituencies

The use of forged or unofficial election documents

Massive discrepancies in vote reporting at the local level compared with the final results

Denied entrance to European Union monitoring officials at many tallying centers

In addition, the chief election official in the country has said he announced the results under heavy pressure and wasn’t sure who actually won the election.

Several top election commissioners have reported irregularities and disowned the results.

Many of the official election forms were stolen from a locked safe immediately after the results were announced.

The Attorney General of Kenya ordered a recount

The Legal Society of Kenya revoked the license of Electoral Commission Chairman.

The government banned all public rallies and protest gatherings. Nairobi’s Uhuru or “Freedom” Park has been surrounded 24/7 by government soldiers and armored vehicles to prevent any gatherings.

The Minister of Internal Security has been accused of issuing shoot to kill orders against protesters. One hospital in Kisumu has reportedly treated over 250 people including elderly women and children for gunshot wounds. In the vast majority of cases, the bullet entered from the rear side of the body.

Ugandan troops have been reported in many towns in the opposition’s stronghold of Western Kenya, but both Kenyan and Ugandan governments deny any knowledge of their presence.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Back to Nairobi

After much agonizing and consultations with family, friends, the church, the U.S. embassy, and our missions society, SAMS, I've decided to return to Kenya. I'm flying on British Airways tonite via London. The situation is calm in Nairobi right now, but please pray for peace. Kofi Annan is coming on Tuesday to help in the mediation process, but there are scheduled protest rallies for Wednesday through Friday. These could become violent and the current political scene makes stability in the country uncertain.

It is heartbreaking to see how fragile life is; how East Africa's most stable democracy, one of Africa's fastest growing economies, and a model for harmonious tribal relations have been shattered in a few days. I live in a safe area, but some of our friends and ministry partners in the slums have been directly impacted by riots, looting, and violence. I am hoping to reconnect and continue with ministry there, but will work mostly from my apartment and keep a very low profile until the situation improves. If the crisis worsens or if we receive word from the embassy, TFC or SAMS to do so, I will come back home early. It has been a joy being home during Christmas and having some extra unexpected time with family and friends.

I'm optimistic that things will improve in Kenya in the near future. We are still planning and preparing for three missions trips to Kenya this summer. Let me know if anyone else is interested and I'll give you more details.

Thank you so much for ya'lls support. Please pray at this time for reconciliation and understanding and peace in Kenya, for worries here and for safety there. . .Amber and Anne are tentatively scheduled to arrive on Thursday night, which is in the middle of the protests. Pray also for their safety and for their families.

Thank you,
Dave

Friday, January 04, 2008

Chaos in Kenya - News Update


Following the closely contested elections on Dec. 27th, East Africa's most stable democracy has disintegrated into violent protests and tribal clashes. Over 300 people have died as allegations of fraud and rigging surround the elections. Four top Election Commission Officials along with the ECK Chief and international monitors have expressed doubt over the validity of the results. The Opposition Party has refused to concede defeat and Kenyans have taken their anger into the streets. The incumbent President, Mwai Kibaki who was hastily sworn in when the results were announced, has warned that any protesters will face the full force of the law. Riots and looting have occurred throughout many parts of Kenya and police initially adopted a "shoot on sight" policy. International mediators and government and opposition members have recently stepped up efforts to restore peace and find a resolution to the current crisis. . . Please pray for our ministry partners in the slums of Nairobi. The youth from Light and Power and the students and teachers at Akiba School and Elishadai Computer College have all been affected. I have many friends in hard-hit areas and am deeply saddened by these events. Pray for peace, reconciliation, and healing. I was planning to return to Nairobi yesterday, but have postponed my flight until Jan 13th in the hope that things will calm down.