After a particularly violent weekend around Kenya (especially the towns of Nakuru and Naivasha, just 1-2 hours north of us), the numbers have changed drastically.
In the last 4 days they are estimating that another 150 people have been killed -- by machete, by being burned to death, or by guns. That makes the total over 850 deaths since the Presidential Elections on December 27, 2007. The scenes we see on the news are horrible. We were sickened with scenes of brutal murder of perfect strangers - just because their I.D. card showed they were of the "wrong" tribe.
We have heard no official updates on the number of displaced persons within Kenya -- but that certainly changes daily. It is the norm these days to see people walking with huge loads on their heads, or piled high onto bicycles - moving from one place to another, hoping for a safe place to sleep.
One displaced persons camp at a police station in Tigoni (30 minutes north of us) went from only 50 refugees to over 1000 in one day. This is one area where our mission and our church, International Christian Fellowship, has been able to help with donations.
Rosslyn Academy had to shorten their school day today, sending 7 buses of students home at noon. The other buses were held until the end of the regular school day because their routes were unsafe earlier in the day. Teachers are scrambling to put together packets of homework in case tomorrow isn't safe either. However, so far the school is expecting to have classes tomorrow.
It's hard to feel in limbo all the time - is there school? can we go out safely? are we stocked up enough on groceries? etc. But definitely not as hard as it must be for those who have had everything taken away from them - all their earthly possessions burned, and family members killed, just because they are of a certain tribe.
Today our mission team made some quick decisions to help some of the Kenyans that are involved with our mission. Nearly 30 people - mission employees & their families - moved onto our compounds this evening.
Last night they were unable to sleep at all because they are in danger now. They all live fairly near to each other. An opposing tribe of theirs taunted and shouted all night long - threatening to kill anyone who isn't of their tribe. By morning, this opposing tribe had posted notices throughout the neighborhood that anyone of another tribe had to move out by 8pm or "the war will start." Where could they go?
Our compounds have a building with some rooms that are for temporary living situations - someone can live there during the week, then go home to their families on the weekend. Each unit has one fairly large room and then a small sink/kitchen room and a small bathroom. They were not built for entire families, but they are safe within our walled compound. We offered for them move their belongings and stay there with their families for a week or 2 at least until they can find a safe place to take their families.
So today has been full of them driving a truck back and forth, moving all their earthly belongings into those rooms, and moving their immediate families here. We couldn't help with the moving - they said it would have been very dangerous for any of us to go in that area. They were taunted & threatened during the process, and they had to pay some people "security fees" to keep from being harmed as they moved their things. This is happening all over the country, time & again.
We were able to give them some food since they had no time to buy food after they moved. Hopefully it will help them for a little while. We heard today on the news that staple food prices have risen 40%. That is really difficult on the common people.
Several of these employees are our security guards. Our compound has several guards that rotate shifts. This has been in place for years - this is not due to the recent unrest - it is due to the fact that Nairobi is one of the top 10 most dangerous cities.... armed crime is very high here. Our guards are wonderful guys. Jonathan loves to talk to them by the gate (which is right by our driveway).
I pray tonight they are able to sleep peacefully, knowing they are so much safer than the night before. Pray for their children, too. This must be so difficult.
I can hear dogs barking all around our neighborhood. Some nights it's fairly quiet, but tonight they are all in a loud chorus.
I tried to post some more pictures from the displaced peoples camps, but the internet keeps dropping out, so I'll have to try again later.
Kevin is going over his sermon for chapel tomorrow.
Thanks for praying as he ministers to students in the midst of this crisis in Kenya.
