Kenyan Political Violence: Church responds
With reports from Micah McCoy, ACT International, Kenya.
More than 250,000 people who have fled post-election violence in Kenya are still living in makeshift camps with uncertain futures.
In Molo town, 200km from the capital Nairobi, the sounds and smells of human suffering assault the senses. Babies and children cry, the smell of raw sewage hangs in the air, and the tired, expressionless faces speak volumes about the trauma of violence, sexual assault, and displacement.
Molo has become a temporary home for more than 4,000 people – mainly women and children. Drinking water, basic food and a small medical clinic are being provided, but the camp is overcrowded and growing by the day. There is only one latrine for every thousand people, greatly increasing the risk of contamination and disease in the camp.
While food supplies are adequate, they do not meet the special nutritional requirements of those who are HIV-positive, the many nursing and pregnant mothers, and children. Due to limited shelter space only mothers with infants are able to sleep in tents, all others remain outside during the cold nights.
Nairobi’s slums, among the largest in Africa, have also been severely affected by the post-election unrest. As the presidential results were announced on December 27th, Mathare slum exploded in violence and flames. Gangs of armed youth rampaged through the area, burning entire neighbourhoods and brutally attacking anyone perceived to be of a different political affiliation.
Ruth Wanjiku took shelter in Mathare after her home was destroyed.
“We tried to put out the fire, but all the while we were being stoned, so we decided to stop fighting and salvage what we could. We ran to a church for safety. We basically have nothing. At some point we’ll have to go, but we have no place to go. We have no money to rent another house. It is a very bad experience. I was born here. It is all I know. Now, my mother, my thirteen siblings and I have no place to go,” Ruth says.
Over a thousand men, women and children huddle in this cramped island of relative safety. Despite the camp’s ethnic and political mixture, all the occupants here are at peace because they are in the same situation. They share the same overcrowded church compound, the same overused latrines, and sleep outside on the same hard ground. Even in this climate of sadness and loss, Ruth shows an encouraging spirit of resilience and reconciliation.
“All different tribes are here but we get along just fine. We have been very good neighbours. These same people (who burned our houses) were our neighbours. We will forgive; we will go on with our lives. The only time I was really angry was the day our houses were burned.”
With the critical needs in Kenya at this time the church has an urgent and vital role to play, as well as addressing long-term challenges of inequality and corruption.
AngliCORD has launched an emergency appeal for people affected by the violent unrest through Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and their partners, including the Anglican Church of Kenya.
ACT International aim to reach at least 25,000 people, targeting those worse affected in western Kenya and Nairobi’s slums.
“The impact of this unrest will have long-term consequences on the most vulnerable people, and Australians have an opportunity to ensure the church in Kenya supports those affected,” says Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne and President of AngliCORD. “I encourage a prayerful and generous response to support people in Kenya.”
With support from ACT International, the Anglican Church of Kenya is responding in two seriously affected regions around Nyanza and Eldoret.
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) is working together with other agencies to provide emergency food, water, blankets, and tents to displaced people. Professional counseling and pastoral care is being offered to people traumatised and or sexually assaulted during the unrest.
The ACK is the second largest Christian church in Kenya, with over 5 million members and 1,800 parishes. ACK seeks to have a holistic ministry that combines both teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ with community development work – addressing the social, physical and economic needs of poor and vulnerable communities in Kenya.
With questions of healing, justice and reconciliation a high priority in Kenya, Church leaders will be influential in finding a way forward but also face the risk of forming political alliances that compromise their credibility and authority.
Anglican agencies around the world, including AngliCORD, have a significant opportunity to provide solidarity, prayer and financial support to the Anglican Church of Kenya during this critical and painful time.
Dr Freier and Mrs Joy Freier spent much of January in the Middle East and Africa visiting community development partners of AngliCORD and the Anglican Board of Mission (ABM). Dr Freier cancelled a planned January visit to Anglican community development partners in Kenya due to the violent protests in one of Africa's most stable countries