The horrifying & the awe inspiring
The fund raising has gone well, with over $2500 USD in just 4 days. Thank you everyone for your rapid response and support. I am so pleased to find friends among co-workers at IBM and Sony gracious with their donations; support through employees, family, my high school physics prof, and a climber I met just once four years ago at Hueco Tanks (who then called a wood-paneled station wagon home). We have also received donations from a young man I met playing a midnight game of frisbee on the loading dock to the fairy between mainland Mexico and Baja; friends of friends and complete strangers.

In the midst of such chaos, it strikes me that humanity is able to take on two contrasting forms, the horrifying and the awe inspiring. Gladys, Wycliffe, and Jacintah moved to keep the children safe when literally, just outside the orphanage walls people were killed. You who have donated funds have almost overnight enabled Cameron to make certain the kids have their basic needs met, Cameron himself risking his life to remain there as long as he is able.

It’s not over yet, but thank you for everything to date.

Update from Nakuru
Cameron is getting to town as often as he can, when it is safe to do so, to stockpile food, mattresses, and blankets for the kids. These text messages in today from Jacintah and Cameron.

SMS from Jacintah, 28-Jan-08, 06:22
“Thank u 4 the donation u sent thru Cameron. 2day people r indoors. Hope this will all settle soon.”

SMS from Cameron, 28-Jan-08, 08:45
“Things seeming better today in town. Road bad, plan to stay here for now. Bought 15 mattresses & blankets today. Town busy.”

These in from Wycliffe, Cameron, and Jacintah.

SMS from Wycliffe, 27-Jan-08, 03:56
“Army choppers filled the sky of Nakuru shooting. Pple r killing one another. Getting worse n worse is Nakuru.”

SMS from Cameron, 27-Jan-08, 08:32
“Was in town for a min today. Was quiet. On way to nairobi kikuyu are checking vehicles. [Withdrew] $400 today, will do same tmrw 4 mattresses & food.”

SMS from Wycliffe, 27-Jan-08, 08:34
“It’s war. 4 last 2 days live[s] claimed 120 over. Now spreading 2 Naivasha abt 60 miles frm Nkr. Shooting outside Pistis is on. 2 nights no sleep I’ve 2 [see] kids safe”

SMS from Cameron, 27-Jan-08, 08:57
“Have seen choppers the past few days. Safe. Haven’t seen fire today. Still lying low. Will keep you posted as i know [more]”

SMS from Jacintah, 27-Jan-08, 15:57
“Am really afraid, it’s already 1 am and i am unable to sleep. Am just sitting on my bed thinking wen will peace kam!”

SMS from Jacintah, 27-Jan-08, 21:52
“This is beyond politics its tribal which was hidden 4 long n it has erupted, n we still say post election violence. Our neighbours have shifted we’r alone. Peace not known since all sides have laid their rules down.”

Getting worse before it gets better
Contrary to an ealier post in which I reflected upon my conversation with Wycliffe and a related NPR story, the situation has moved form political to general lawlessness to inter-tribal conflict with intentional killings for the purpose of revenge.

I have received communications from Cameron, Gladys, and Jacintah.

SMS from Cameron, 25-Jan-08, 04:35
“Dont come unless already set. I can’t even get to

[Pistis]. Bought 400$ food w gladys and she took [to Pistis]. I am safe but sit[uation] is bad. Talk soon.”

SMS from Cameron, 25-Jan-08, 06:00
“Hey k, doing fine. 30 refugee kids @ CMD [Pistis]. No internet, town is shut down. Safe @ home, cam”

SMS from Cameron, 25-Jan-08, 22:39
“No immediate rush w money. I’ll use my own until [donations] come in. Banks may not open – army shut down town today w curfew. Areas around [Pistis] most dangerous.”

SMS from Gladys, 26-Jan-08, 11:02
“Hi kai, thank u 4 the support of money. Cameron bought goods worth ksh 27,000 2day. Thank you 4 ur love n concern. Mama Gladys n Bishop”

SMS from Cameron, 26-Jan-08, 12:06
“50 dead today here. Burning houses a mile away. But home and safe. Plan to be here months. Violence no longer pol[itical].”

SMS from Jacintah, 26-Jan-08, 21:37
“Hi, we’r all fine n pistis is ok 2. The morning of yesterday i saw 7 dead bodies which were cut n burnt at ponda mali ([where] u bought potatoes, do u remember that market?) we’ve curfe n security implemented at nite but still people r dying during the day n early morning.”

I spoke to Cameron two days ago and then again this morning, following a long conversation with Wycliffe. Cameron is living a few miles from the Pistis orphanage, off the main highway to Nairobi, on the southwest side of Nakuru. From his home there, he can see smoke on the horizon, homes burning in the area immediately surrounding Pistis.

Yesterday, Cameron went to town with Gladys, the founder of Pistis, to purchase food for the orphanage. He is using his own funds until we can route the donations (over $1500 USD in the pas 48 hours) to his account.

He describes downtown Nakuru, the business district, as relatively untouched by the violence. Roughly 50% of the stores are shutdown, steel roll-away doors protecting the store fronts from vandalism. The number of people on the streets is also at roughly half, with a greater military presence than normal.

Nakuru is under a 7 pm to 7 am curfew, which Cameron states is working to some degree. And yet 50 people are reported to have been killed yesterday. Wycliffe confirms this number from Pistis. Cameron is unable to get to Pistis which is in the center of the high tension area.

Wycliffe is now living at Pistis instead of his apartment or his family home two kilometers distance, toward the national park. He is acting as a security guard by night, and helping to keep things running smooth by day.

The tension around Pistis has escalated to a critical high, with threats by tribesman to avenge killings, boys and men carrying jengas and machetes even as they pass by the police and military. It is the poorest part of Nakuru with the highest density of people. This is where tribal conflict erupted some years earlier.

Wycliffe walked through the streets just outside of Pistis and counted some 20 bodies, slain in the past day or two. In his thirty years he cannot recall anything like this.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Mission in Action – Australia
Date: Jan 25, 2008 9:30 PM
Subject: “Nakuru Town is Shut Down”
To: studentprojectafricanetwork

Trouble is escalating in Nakuru and I have never felt so scared for MIA and the people of Nakuru. The people that many of us know and love… This is out of control and there is nothing we can do for them.. As I type this my hands are sweating and my eyes are welling up with tears.

Mary and the girls are still enroute to Nairobi and then has to make the very unsafe drive home to Nakuru. She has stressed the point that she NEEDS to be home with her children. I will update the site as soon as I hear they are home safe.

The update I have received over the phone from Tammi as she spoke to Ivan is below. You can see more info on the website as well… I will keep it as updated as I can. Some of you will not know the people named below but they are some of our workers who are a big part of our family….

The Kikuyus have said that for every one Kikuyu killed in Eldoret, 2 Kalenjins will be killed in Nakuru. Apparently (from Ivan) the road up to Piave has people waiting with bows and arrows, manchette’s and other weapons incase they are attacked, they are ready to fight. The roads into Nakuru have been blocked and there are checks going on everywhere in Nakuru. One staff member said that the Kikuyus are asking everyone who is not kikuyu to get out of matatus and they are fighting (if not killing) them. So matatus and cars are rarely on the road. They are also targeting the Luo tribe (Anishas tribe) as they are thought to have voted for Raila.

Ivan had to send Wesley back to his home for the orphanages safety, as he is Kalenjin so some prayers his way wouldn’t hurt! There is a good chance that he will have to fight.

Last night was expected to be a very tense night and the violence is ALOT worse than when I was there. As I spoke to Ivan there was a fight happening in Molo, not too far away and many fires.

In town the GSU (riot police) have bee deployed but there are still MANY fires. They are even starting fires during the day! Outside our friends orphanage there are fires that Ivan could see as he spoke to me.

There is talk over there of the violence entering the showground. I’ve seen the showground with my own eyes and if they go there things are going to get a lot worse, there are thousands of people there. Many (if not all) are there because they were scared to be in their own town. Now they’ve tracked them down and are ready to kill them. This is escalating beyond belief

Sarah Eaton
Mission in Action
Nakuru Baby Orphanage

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.