There is Hope

As we begin the third week of 2008, the situation in Kenya remains unstable and the future is unforeseeable. The death toll continues to rise, and new areas of conflict are igniting around the country. The international community reverberates with calls for a political resolution as the political leaders here in Kenya stand firm in their positions, each mouthing that they are ready to talk. But far from the circles of power, in the local communities, it is the common citizen that is suffering.

Theories and commentaries abound. The most comprehensive sounds like this from Kariithi A. Ngeera, “Hidden under the thin veil [of a political feud] is an explosive concoction of land grievances, economic inequalities, raw hunger for power, political thuggery, historical ethnic suspicions and hatred, and interference by foreign powers.” (as quoted in the Daily Nation by the Watchman in his daily column “The Cutting Edge”)
One wonders where to begin to unravel the roots of this conflict, and yet one must be humble and courageous enough to begin with the situation as it is presented at hand.

The peace team began our response by volunteering at our local parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe, to accompany the trauma survivors. This parish is one of the largest in Nairobi. Seventy percent of the parishioners are urban poor that reside in the largest marginalized community called Kibera. This was disturbingly noticeable on the two Sundays following the December 27th poll, when the church was nearly empty during liturgies. From Epiphany Sunday, Jan 6th, the parish team called for volunteers and organized a response to the situation.

The police have barricaded Kibera, restricting access in and out of the area, and violence continues to erupt within. Twenty six social agents from the parish have been going into the neighborhood three times a week to visit those people effected by the violence, to assess the situation, and to give assistance where needed. To date they have registered nearly 600 families in need, and expect that number to reach 1,000 before the crisis is over. These people have lost loved ones, homes, belongings, or their small businesses. Toi Market, an outdoor retail market where many set up small shops to sell vegetables, fruit, used clothing, or small merchandise, was destroyed during the first week of violence. Many single mothers lost their small income business when this happened and are now left with nothing to support their children.

The emotional suffering and trauma are still secondary to getting basic needs met. People cannot address their emotional well being until their children are fed and they have a place to safely sleep. So our role now is to support those social agents who are encountering the survivors. As caregivers, they need to protect themselves as well from taking on the trauma they see or hear in others.

There are good stories that need to be lifted up as well. We visited a friend this past weekend, who lives in yet another marginalized neighborhood. She and her surrounding neighbors, mostly family, are of one tribe. Yet there are a few among them from the “other” tribe. A band of armed youth came one night looking for members of the “other” tribe, but the neighbors all protected one another, telling the youth to go. This has happened in many parts of the country, but the telling of it is rare. Some people have learned to live beyond the tribal divisions. There is hope and there is strength, and those are the people who will save their country.

The civil society as well is to be commended. They have organized themselves in many facets, and joined to call for peace and for justice. Citizens for Peace called for dialogue and mediation within days of Mwai Kibaki’s swearing in as president. The media organizations came together immediately with the plea “Save Our Beloved Country,” and have been printing and broadcasting messages of peace and calm since that day. The performance artists have banded together and organized relief campaigns and services. Even in the streets, the citizens and residents have responded by reaching out to help one another, yielding to another, smiling, each wanting to be that peace the country is missing.

We don’t see an end to the crisis in the near future. Each day we hope for good news, and for a shift in the political leaders’ positions. We will do our part as we can to work for justice and peace. And we ask that you continue to support us in our effort. Thanks for your prayers, support, and messages of encouragement.