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UPDATE: Regarding Violence in Kenya
January 7, 2008
Dear Friends,
Many of you have been keeping up with the latest news on the Kenyan crisis. We encourage you to continue watching the news and learning what you can from those sources.
Please continue to pray for our field staff and for our many f/Friends in Kenya who are now struggling with the first of the aftershocks of conflict - lack of food, fuel and clean water. Many are also struggling with shelter and basic living supplies as such as clothes, blankets, etc.
Jody Richmond and the Grace and Muhanji families are safe and doing quite well as are Bob and Hope Carter, David Zarembka and Gladys Kamonya and Donald and Ruth Thomas. We continue to receive frequent communication from many of them.
I am listing three of the many blogs that deal with information on the Kenyan conflict. Mary Kay Rehard is a former FUM field staff and has created a blog to begin accumulating information in one place. Carol Homes, an FUM board member, mentions in her blog ways to give financially to the humanitarian efforts in Kenya. The Quaker Service blog contains a running journal of the events from David Zarembka who is now living in Kenya with his wife Gladys Kamonya. While lengthy, David's letters are a worthy ready.
Please note that while FUM does not sponsor or promote any of these blogs, these are references which we have found to be helpful. They do not in any way cover the entire subject or come close to being an inclusive list.
- Mary Kay Rehard's blog for pooling together information
- Carol Holmes' blog (FUM board member)
- Contains the letters from David Zarembka
Blessings,
Terri Johns
FUM Program Manager
Regarding Violence in Kenya
January 2, 2008
The presidential elections that were held in Kenya on December 26 have caused a flurry of violence and deaths. The rioting is primarily between the tribes of the presidential candidates. Reportedly, the incumbent president, Kibaki who is of the Kikuyu tribe, is being accused of rigging the election and officials were forced to declare him the winner, even though preliminary polls assured the country that Odinga (of the Luo tribe) would win. (Most of the Kenyan Friends are Luhya.)
In Kisumu, there has been much burning and looting of shops owned by Kikuyu people. An Assemblies of God church in Eldoret where many people were taking refuge was burned and about 50 people died there. There has been much violence in the Kibera slum district in Nairobi. News reports we have heard say that between 275 and 300 people have died. Public radio gives the most complete information and reports that the head of the African Union is meeting with both presidential candidates today to see if there is a compromise that can bring the violence to an end.
We have heard almost daily by phone from Eden Grace and John Muhanji, though e-mail access has been nearly eliminated for them. Eden's family had suspected that there might be tension and left their home in Kisumu to stay elsewhere several days ago. She has repeatedly said things are calm in Kaimosi around the hospital and the college. John has been with his family in his home village. He reports that keeping the young people in his community occupied with soccer games and movies has helped create a diversion so that they are not joining the trouble. Both Eden and John returned briefly to Kisumu yesterday and say the damage to the city is extensive but the Graces' home is fine. Ben Richmond is in Maryland visiting with his mother after she had surgery to repair a broken hip. Jody Richmond has been staying with Bob and Hope Carter while Ben has been away and they are all safe.
Affecting everyone is the shortage of fuel and food, because shops are closed, people are afraid to go out, and what supplies were available are now depleted. The US Embassy has an evacuation plan in place if and when it is needed for US citizens and Eden is constant contact with the Embassy.
Dale and Sylvia Graves, Brent McKinney and Judy Davis have tickets to travel to Kenya on January 15 to attend the Africa General Board meeting and do some other visiting among our Kenyan Friends. As of now, there are no plans to change the trip, but we are being cautious and prayerful.
Friends, your prayers for Kenya are needed desperately. We hope you will invite many others to pray for peace, for a healthy dialogue between the warring parties, and for a quick end to this "sad and bloody new year for Kenya 2008" as John Muhanji says. However, please be careful in your communication that you do not put in details that might harm our staff or others involved in this wave of hatred and violence.
Sylvia Graves, General Secretary