Updates from Kenya

This is a picture from last summer of our Kenya team with members of the
Kibera Slums Community Development Project. Kibera has been one of the areas hardest hit by the post-election violence in Kenya. Below are some excerpts from emails we've been receiving from our friends in Nairobi. We continue to pray for peace and reconcilation in Kenya.

January 2, 2008

Hi Desiree,If you tell us "Happy New Year", We Kenyans at the moment will say " Thanks, but all are not well." This is because in spite of economic hardship, Kenyans are robbed of the victory of their presidential choice, and the aftermath is total civil strife; what we have never experienced since independence. This scenario has brought a lot of bloodshed and our political leaders are doing completely nothing! Oh God help us!!...there is no money and children are crying as if there parents are forcefully denying them their rights, the structures in which they live and do businesses are being demolished some are out in the cold all day and night. the same people are not spared by the wanton bullets from the security forces nicknamed " General Service Unit". Our children are confused and the country's transport system is on hold; roads are barricaded with heavy loads and are therefore impassable. Vehicles are set ablaze and this engulfs the whole country. .My request is simple: Pray for us and God will hear you. Joseph

January 4, 2008

Hi Guzman, Many thanks for your prayers as well as your interest to help. Kibera currently is a "no go zone" there is alot of para-military police police sorrounding it. Actually what we need most is you prayers.Even if there are alot of problems now, we have to wait till the tension cools down then we will see what to do. Let's pray for peace. George

January 7, 2008

Desiree,Thanks for your email. I have taken this length of time to reply because there is no means of communication around Kibera. I have to trek up to the city centre to send this email.The condition has not improve either. People suffer a terrible pain as they cannot work to earn a living. All business premises have been demolished. We all hope it will improve now that there is presence in the talks by international community.

January 8, 2008

Hi Desiree, How are you... I hope that you are fine and doing well. We are still in the process of peace healing and reconciliation. At the moment we are experiencing alot of people in worst condition especially in Kibera whose houses were burnt, families killed etc. People are living on the street day and night without food, clothings etc.There is a mass of displaced people from Kibera now camped at the Nairobi Show Ground, 2km from Shalom House, they lack all the basic need. We are mobilising and collecting some donations to send there.