Post from 3rd January
Post from 5th January
Post from 9th January
Post from 4th February
Posted
4th February
Things in Kenya are politically poised to improve potentially with talk
of peace negotiations between Odinga and Kibaki. However on the streets
and for ordinary people life remains fragile and frightening. Just outside
Nairobi around 6,000 people from many different tribes have fled their
homes to take refuge in makeshift camps in which they are falling victim
to rape, shootings and human rights abuses. They have no food, no water
and are desperate to get back to their rural homes in western Kenya.
In Kisumu friends with whom we have spoken have said that "Kisumu
has gone." People are starving as lack of food and adequate sanitation
and security continue to take their toll on the emotional and physical
health of ordinary people. Hospitals are overwhelmed, schools closed,
businesses shut down or destroyed and the atmosphere tense. People are
waiting for a political solution but many remain fearful that this will
be a far cry from the cries of people on the streets.
Perhaps the saddest personal news which we have received at KOP was
on February 1st 2008 when we received notification that one of the Vima
children was shot and killed by a stray bullet in one of the demonstrations.
His name was Godfrey and he was 12 years old.
We are raising funds for an emergency appeal to support the street children
and the Vima kids and will be doing this both through donations and
also through the Kenyan Orphan Project Ball - details
can be found here on the website.
