The next morning

SMS from Jacintah, 25-Jan-08, 21:08
“At least the morning has come. We don’t know wat next. Part of Pistis neighbourhood houses have been burnt. I don’t know

[where] we r heading.Tension is very high.”

SMS from Jacintah, 25-Jan-08, 23:49
“Gun shots r heard. People r chased. Pistis is in the middle of all thats happening.”

And through a phone conversation I learned the photos from Gladys’ email showcase an estimated 2,000 displaced or homeless individuals. While the Red Cross is working to support those people in the ball park, Pistis remains without financial nor material support. I fear the food will run dry quickly, having seen 90kg bags of beans and rice consumed daily, even when rationed.

My sys admin and I have completed the new donations form for SPAN. We are now moving to raise funds to send to Cameron, Executive Board member who is in Pistis now. With these funds he will purchase food, clothing, beds, and soap for the children. Please consider a donation of any value.

A sleepless night in Nakuru
I stepped away from my office for a few minutes to fix a late lunch in our office kitchen. Upon return to my desk, I noticed three missed calls and a text from Jacintah in Nakuru, Kenya.

SMS from Jacintah, 24-Jan-08, “PRAY, WE R SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO’VE SWORDS, LIVE GUN SHOTS N ARROWS HERE IN NAKURU. NO PEACE BUT MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US N SAVE OUR NATION”

I immediately called her back. Her voice was shaking. It is 2:00 am there. She cannot sleep for the yelling and gun fire. Her family, my host family, is scared to sleep indoors for fear of a fire bomb hitting their house, but outside is equally scary, and cold. A house was burned just down the alley and across the street. It was all I could do to not cry while listening to her.

She echoed her brother’s email in sharing how the thugs are neither motivated by the politics nor inter-tribal tension, rather taking advantage of the chaos for personal gain.

It is nearly impossible for me to sit here, with everything I could ever want in life, in a safe neighborhood where I can freely walk to and from work, and not drive to Denver to catch the next plane to Kenya. I don’t know if I will do more good here where I can raise funds and help coordinate relief, or there where I can be with the children whom I have come to know and those who are new to Pistis, to offer some level of comfort, perhaps protection.

I remember the riots following the Rodney King trials in California in the early ’90s and realize this can happen anywhere. But it truly hits home when it is a place that I have been, to people I hold dear. I just hope the next call I receive from Jacintah is one of her waking to a peaceful day and a sky filled with blue in place of burning grey.

Hi Kai!

Attacks were real, people have been killed yester night and more tension, fear and more displacement and loss of jobs as people seek refuge elsewhere. Nakuru has been calm till yesterday when some of … boys were spotted in groups and were confirmed to be non-residents of Nakuru.

More fightings, between groups of different ethnicity, resulting into death, damages and destruction of people’s properties. The killings happened at northwest of Pistis about 1 kilometer from the school. It is unfortunate that I can’t be able to give out the exact number of the casualty and death. But is reported to be more 5 or so were killed.

Kenyans, Nakuru in particular have been watching Hollywood productions and always felt like its good to watch movies in the cinemas and this is really war/fighting, never had experience of such. Now! Things are no longer in the Hollywood or cinemas but it is happening, gunshots weren’t heard by most of people, unless through electronics today a different story.

Results of the killings are demoralizing and have let us down in most areas of our concern. Respect, love, unity, harmony, friendship, neighborhood … are being killed by hatred and tribalism. Political differences may rip us apart.

Post-election, yes! post election, I think it is not election result that are fueling people to turn against each other, but my perspective is idle and inoperative people have taken advantage of the situation to loot and acquire things in a wrong way.

As much as they have support of their … Who will come publicly and say my supporter have been arrested without any wrong committed? At the scene of crime, in possession of goods without a trace of legal ownership, I forbid that. They are criminals not their supporters, if yes, are really supporters then the first and foremost criminal is that politician in defense of the criminal arrested by the police.

Politicians are the most to be blamed of every single blood drop from innocent Kenyans. People are killed by their supporter and no one, even a single political leader have publicly cursed the killings. They have remained mum and it’s like nothing is happening in their area of vicinity.

Some of them come out publicly and claim their people are being killed and are displaced yet at night they support the intrusion of other people’s properties and even to an extent robbing and killing. People.

What are Kenyan politicians? Self seekers, greedy to grab, unpatriotic, power hungry, un-visionary, money seekers, looters, people who want to be small gods [for] their supporters. These are politicians who think that they are leaders. It applies to them in opposition and Government.

I support every cause of unity and friendship among the people of Kenya and our friends who are with us in prayers and thinking of positive happenings Kenya.

Friends you are all dear to me and my family, my neighbor and my nation. I do write to express my concern to all of you that nothing can be solved unless hands are put together, a friend in need comes in the very time of the need of his help. We need your moral support and more so closeness in every way you may see us through this burning moments.

Kai, thank you for every encouragement you’ve had for us every singe help financially and morally.

Wycliffe

Dear friends,
Receive very warm greetings from us. It is our sincere hope that you minds are on Kenya as the country passes through a trying time. As a destitute centre, we too have received a part of the displaced children from the rift valley and we are now all calling for help from all friends. Kindly read the attached mail and the photos and share with the willing, touched by the plight of the children. God bless you.
Regards,
Gladys

More orphans than resources
As more than a quarter million Kenyans have left or lost their homes in the past month, there are many children now homeless. The Kenyan government has mandated that key orphanages receive additional children, including Pistis. The following are a series of text messages from Jacintah, a staff member of the Pistis Academy and Orphanage and member of my host family.

SMS from Jacintah, 19-Jan-08, 02:40
“Children who r displaced du 2 the caos in kenya r being distributed at the orphanages around our towns. We’ll be given abt 10 or more kids for temporary stay.”

SMS from Jacintah, 19-Jan-08, [n/a]
“The children will be coming monday afta passing thro court.”

SMS from Jacintah, 21-Jan-2008 04:50
“HI, we have been given 20 kids who’r displaced they’r all 10 years n below.”

SMS from Jacintah, 22-Jan-2008 04:35
“Guess what! We’ve been given 10 more kids 2day n stil expecting more anytime.”

SMS from Jacintah, 22-Jan-2008 08:45
“As per now we’r in need of blankets, matresses, food, school uniforms, books, soap n medicine. Nway the list is endless. Thank u 4 ur concern n love abt us.”

Unfortunately, the government is not at this time offering financial assistance which places a tremendous burden on Pistis for the price of food has sky-rocketed and availability remains low. This may be the greatest, long term crises to face. SPAN is now receiving additional donations for Pistis.

Thank you! –kai

Text messages, email, and the news
The following are a series of text messages and email from Jacintah and her brother Wycliffe. We have remained in communication, nearly every other day this past month. I am privileged to receive these daily updates and then contrast/compare to the news as presented by NPR, as follows.

SMS from Jacintah, 08-Jan-08, 07:45
“At least peace is kaming n seen. President is expected 2 meet opposition leader in order 2 have dialoge n reconciliation. The person uniting is president of ghana.”

SMS from Jacintah, 16-Jan-08, 07:45
“Jambo! Hope ok. We’re doing fine tho today other towns r having peaceful demonstration bt people have been shot n wounded at kisumu town.”

At this point, I had just listened to an hour long program on the Sirius NRP Talk station. I do not recall the guests’ names nor their respective titles, but a number of important points were addressed, including discussion of whether or not Kenya could become another Rwanda. This is what I gleaned from the program, my own paraphrasing applied:

Rwanda was fully planned, an exacting execution of genocide through the use of military and powerful “hate radio” propaganda. Rwanda was an ethnic battle with political overtones. The guests concluded, “What is unfolding in Kenya is political with ethnic overtones … and is not likely to become something more.”

When asked about the foundation of the ethnic tension that is boiling to the surface, one of the guests described two potential causes:

In the ’50s, when Kenyans began to organize to gain political power, the then controlling British made certain the tribes were not able to work together by curbing political parties along tribal boundaries. This ensured these new political bodies could not gain too much momentum, too quickly. It stands to reason that just fifty years later tension along these traditional boundaries remain fueled, in part, by the former British rule.

When the British exited Kenya, large plots of land, ranches and plantations were sold back to native Kenyans. In the Rift Valley in particular, those who often purchased the land were not originally from the Rift Valley, but from the central regions of Kenya, creating tension between the Rift locals and those who obtained the land.

Come forward fifty years and President Mwai Kibaki regains office by what appears to be fraud. As Kibaki is of one of the two largest tribes “Kikuyu”, the underlying tension for tribal power is amplified in a region which already harbors an elevated level of tension, and Jacintah’s text message (below) hits home.

SMS from Jacintah, 18-Jan-08, 07:45
“But the problem is now being seen as tribal, personal n above all hatred is wat is seen in xperienced.”

Email from Wicliffe, 18-Jan-08, 18:13
“Nakuru is calming down for the last three days. I witnessed good progress despite the mass movement call from ODM part. I hope this will be in the whole country in the near future. Other towns are really affected about 20 people have been killed for last three days of protest. In Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret and Mombasa most affected cities.”

Of course, nothing is as simple as a + b = riots, but it helps to understand some of the history, the potential fuel for these fires. The worst thing the media, any of us can do is turn a blind eye to the strife and write it off as simply “an African tribal affair” for this invokes an emotional shield, a safe disconnect. Everyone belongs to a tribe in this world, whether it is our family, our church, our school, our town, or our State. Consider what would be required to cause such a response in our selves or our neighbors; what would cause the breakdown of our societal norm –then seek empathy for those who are experiencing this now.

Gladys writes, “We at C.M.D/Pistis, are safe and sound. Protesters and armies of destruction have destroyed and raged kiosks, shops and somse houses around us. It is hit and run style of tactics. The refugees (asylum seekers) whose houses were burnt down, now some are housed at C.M.D/Pistis, have made us receive threats of harbouring thugs. The threats are real, which is threatening our survival. Govt security is aware.

Also, we are experiencing food shortage to feed all and sundry. The available food on market are very expensive because prices have skyrocketed.”

Dear Partners,

We write to wish you happy blessed New Year, 2008. We had a memorable year 2007 and thank you for your support during the year. It was a year of unprecedented miracles … we are grateful to you.

We have had general election on 27th December 2007. The post election has violence has claimed over 150 people killed hundreds of others injured in violence sparued by disputed results of the presidential election won by Mr Mwai Kibaki. Kenya is severely damaged due to disputes over the outcome. Both sides (Government and opposition) are alleging rigging and have taken extreme positions. Never has there been so much animosity between people who have lived together as good neighbours for many years.

Food and fuel is hiking and youths blocking roads and burning property as they protest at results of presidential role. Most of the businesses remained closed for the third day running. The few that open priced their goods exorbitantly with a bunch of kales going for 50 Ksh from 5 Ksh. Sugar maize flour beef and vegetables have disappeared as traders remain indoors for their own security. Meanwhile, the Government is assuring the country that its security force would contain the post-election violence. Pray with us for our stock of food and cash as CMD is drilling. Secondly that peace be restored to our beautiful country. That all Kenyans cherish the peace and stability that we have enjoyed from God and live together in tolerance and mutual respect.

Lastly, as we make the New Year, we wish you a happy and blessed prosperous mew year 2008. God richly bless you.

Bishop Laban and Rev Gladys Wekesa
CMD

Challenging Questions
While yet in Kenya I reverted the “A Shifting Perspective” (originally posted as “Not all Peaches & Cream”) entry to Draft mode for further editing. Since then, I have worked on it daily (leaving the original post date in tact in order that the entries remain contiguous). Not because what I wrote was completely inaccurate nor offensive (at least I don’t believe it was), but because in prior posts I offered my experience of Kenya, Nakuru, and Pistis through stories of interaction with less of my own interpretation.

In Shifting Perspective, I try to understand what I have experienced through contrast and comparison to the norms of my own upbringing and culture within my country, asking hard questions as many were also asked of me.

“I have heard it is dangerous to be Black in the United States. Is this true?”

“Why is your government trying to define who can and who cannot be married? I thought the U.S. became independent from England to keep the church separate from the State.”

Perhaps the most challenging to answer, which I have been asked during other ventures overseas, “Is it true that your government kills people with electricity?”

I was asked several times, “Is it [cold/hot] in the United States?”

And my favorite, “Is there still manual labor in the United States? Or is everything done by machines?”

Some of these are funny, even fun to answer, but some are very challenging. While I can quote statistics or give my personal opinion, I cannot pretend to know the experience of African Americans nor fully explain the history of how the church and State do share government. Often I was asked questions that do not have a single answer, explaining that in many respects the U.S. feels like the union of small countries, each with their own weather, laws, culture, and languages. I always made clear that I am but one person with my own opinions and experience and that I represent only me and perhaps my family and a few friends, with any level of certainty.

In the same respect, I bombarded my Kenyan host family and new friends with my thirst for knowledge, seeking understanding of what I saw and experienced there. They were more than patient, answering what they can from their own points of view. In so doing, I realize too how much anyone takes for granted, how much we accept as the norm where we are born and raised.

So when someone asks, “How far behind is Kenya from the U.S.?” I laugh and say, “In some respects, you are far ahead. In others you are catching up.” The United States has a great deal to offer that is of benefit to others, but we have a great deal to learn as well. I ask that as we continue to mature as individuals, and as a country, that we stop pushing so hard for everyone to be like us; that we stop long enough to ask, What can we bring home from where we visit? What do we have to learn from the rest of the world?

This post is continued with A Shifting Perspective.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]