Thank you for all your thoughts, support and prayers as Kenya goes through this trying time. Many of you have asked to find out what is happening on the ground so I have tried to give you a sketch of what is going on. I have posted some photographs of the physical damage that has been done. First though I start with a brief outline of the current political situation as defined by those who know the law a lot better than I do.
Please find below an excerpt from an advocate to the high court concerning kenya's recent general election. Already the head of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (Mr. Kivuitu) has admitted that he did not know who won the election and called he and his fellow commissioners 'culprits'in a process that was marred by irregularities. Despite this admission he has also stated that he will not resign.
"With due respect to Mr Kivuitu, it was irregular, unlawful and void in law to announce the results on December 30 and swear in the President on the same day. The ECK boss announced the results when he did not have the original Forms 16, 16A and 17A from each constituency, refused to allow the 24-hour period for candidates to lodge complaints and declined to allow retallying." from an article written by Mr. Kipkorir in the Nation on Saturday 5th January. For the full article which explains exactly what the constitution states and how the process should have actually gone: click here
Even before the general elections, I had contact with a youth leader from Kibera Youth Initiative for Community Development called Erick. He had been trying to get me involved with a children's home that the youth were actively involved in running. What was special about this project in East Africa's biggest slum (Kibera) was that it was young men between the ages of 18 - 35 that would help to prepare the food, clean and develop programmes for Mama Tunza's Orphanage.
In the aftermath of the elections, we started to speak daily. Erick lives in the Fort Jesus area of Kibera. His group KYICD were seriously affected by the turnout of events. They had to organise themselves to protect (largely) women and children from attack and also protect businesses from being destroyed. They had watched toi market (which provides their daily bread) go up in flames.
Initially I was mainly concerned with Erick's welfare. Giving him remedies for his broken arm, buying him airtime for his phone so he could contact people but soon it became apparent that many many people were in dire need. A friend who worked with MSF (Doctors without Borders) told me they had a clinic open in Kibera but no-one realised it was open because communications were at best difficult.
Once in touch with Erick many people were able to get to the clinic for treatment, most of them were young women who had been raped. It was critical they received treatment but also drugs that could prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Every evening Erick would call to say thank you and report on the people who had been helped. This was despite the fact that he was barely sleeping, injured himself and on constant patrols to ensure the saftey in his neigbbourhood.
One night Erick called me at midnight. He had a call from a woman who was stuck in her house surrounded by a gang of men - was there anything I could do? I felt totally useless - who would go into a notorious slum at a time like this to help her? Erick was in a dilemma - should they leave the people they were currently guarding vulnerable and may not even get there in time? The worst happened in the end and she was taken to the clinic for treatment the following morning.
Yesterday morning Erick called and asked if I would go into Kibera. He wanted me to see for myself and hear for myself what people had been going through. If possible he also wanted me to take photographs. The day before I had been collecting supplies for displaced families to deliver to a local church, I wanted to feel that that was enough. I looked at my 8 and a half month old daughter and I was scared. So scared in fact that I decided to go.
My husband devised a way for us to secret the camera and we went to meet Erick. We met him at Uchumi Supermarket in Adams Arcade. Shortly after we got there people started running and several armed police arrived. The security pulled down the barrier into the carpark. We found out later that tear gas had been released on Ngong Road. Erick told us we would be safe once we got into Kibera, it was the getting into and out of that was a problem. I did notice then that many of the poeple who were running were heading towards Kibera.
Please find below an excerpt from an advocate to the high court concerning kenya's recent general election. Already the head of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (Mr. Kivuitu) has admitted that he did not know who won the election and called he and his fellow commissioners 'culprits'in a process that was marred by irregularities. Despite this admission he has also stated that he will not resign.
"With due respect to Mr Kivuitu, it was irregular, unlawful and void in law to announce the results on December 30 and swear in the President on the same day. The ECK boss announced the results when he did not have the original Forms 16, 16A and 17A from each constituency, refused to allow the 24-hour period for candidates to lodge complaints and declined to allow retallying." from an article written by Mr. Kipkorir in the Nation on Saturday 5th January. For the full article which explains exactly what the constitution states and how the process should have actually gone: click here
Even before the general elections, I had contact with a youth leader from Kibera Youth Initiative for Community Development called Erick. He had been trying to get me involved with a children's home that the youth were actively involved in running. What was special about this project in East Africa's biggest slum (Kibera) was that it was young men between the ages of 18 - 35 that would help to prepare the food, clean and develop programmes for Mama Tunza's Orphanage.
In the aftermath of the elections, we started to speak daily. Erick lives in the Fort Jesus area of Kibera. His group KYICD were seriously affected by the turnout of events. They had to organise themselves to protect (largely) women and children from attack and also protect businesses from being destroyed. They had watched toi market (which provides their daily bread) go up in flames.
Initially I was mainly concerned with Erick's welfare. Giving him remedies for his broken arm, buying him airtime for his phone so he could contact people but soon it became apparent that many many people were in dire need. A friend who worked with MSF (Doctors without Borders) told me they had a clinic open in Kibera but no-one realised it was open because communications were at best difficult.
Once in touch with Erick many people were able to get to the clinic for treatment, most of them were young women who had been raped. It was critical they received treatment but also drugs that could prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Every evening Erick would call to say thank you and report on the people who had been helped. This was despite the fact that he was barely sleeping, injured himself and on constant patrols to ensure the saftey in his neigbbourhood.
One night Erick called me at midnight. He had a call from a woman who was stuck in her house surrounded by a gang of men - was there anything I could do? I felt totally useless - who would go into a notorious slum at a time like this to help her? Erick was in a dilemma - should they leave the people they were currently guarding vulnerable and may not even get there in time? The worst happened in the end and she was taken to the clinic for treatment the following morning.
Yesterday morning Erick called and asked if I would go into Kibera. He wanted me to see for myself and hear for myself what people had been going through. If possible he also wanted me to take photographs. The day before I had been collecting supplies for displaced families to deliver to a local church, I wanted to feel that that was enough. I looked at my 8 and a half month old daughter and I was scared. So scared in fact that I decided to go.
My husband devised a way for us to secret the camera and we went to meet Erick. We met him at Uchumi Supermarket in Adams Arcade. Shortly after we got there people started running and several armed police arrived. The security pulled down the barrier into the carpark. We found out later that tear gas had been released on Ngong Road. Erick told us we would be safe once we got into Kibera, it was the getting into and out of that was a problem. I did notice then that many of the poeple who were running were heading towards Kibera.Minutes later the incident past and we drive first to woodley (what used to be a middle class area), then toi market (a huge expanse which served not only kibera but many people from all walks of life who go to buy 'mitumba' - second hand clothes - there) and finally fort jesus (kibera). Everywhere the scenes were the same - total destruction, burnt out cars, (not a kiosk had survived in toi market), road blocks and barricades. Erick said 'It looks like mogadishu'. He was right.
I suddenly understood why Erick had wanted us to go. If a market like Camden in London was flattened the photos would make the front pages. We were hearing bits and pieces but the full story was far from coming out.
A full live media ban had been ordered soon after journalists had been thrown out of the centre where the election results were being annouced by the authorities. It is difficult to get an idea of the scale of damage without seeing it - words in print are barely enough.
The saddest thing is that these were people who already had so little. As we went further in people pulling mkokoteni's (hand driven rickshaws) were carrying out their meagre belongings - where were they to go? Many poeple wanted to know why they were suffering all over again. Why it was that those that had were safe and secure while those that did not have were fighting (in some cases quite literally) for their lives. Had we not all voted in the same election?
We had heard gunshots when we were at Toi Market and Erick was almost casual 'They are becoming a part of our lives,' he said. In Fort Jesus however things started to get more hectic, suddenly matatus (public service vehicles) were turning back and indicating that we should do so.
We had heard gunshots when we were at Toi Market and Erick was almost casual 'They are becoming a part of our lives,' he said. In Fort Jesus however things started to get more hectic, suddenly matatus (public service vehicles) were turning back and indicating that we should do so. I got a phonecall from my brother warning me that they had heard some violence had erupted (again) and we should get out as soon as we can. Thankfully we got out safely - leaving Erick where he lives - behind.
Today morning Erick phoned and explained that the skirmishes were due to a Red Cross lorry that had been looted. Gangsters had heard about its arrival and had denied people who had queued for hours the oppourtunity of some relief. He wanted to know if we would be willing to take food into Kibera - he was also clear that it meant that we would be potential targets.
We loaded a pickup full of drinking water and the boot of our car with essentials such as unga (maize flour), wimbi (porridge), toilet paper, nappies, sanitary towels etc. Our destination was a Mama Tunza's children's home in the Olympic Area of Kibera. We took a different route in and went at a time when most people should be in church.
It was harder to take photos this time though the destruction we saw was worse. On most streets there were groups of young men hanging around looking tense and wary. The only 2 photojournalists we saw were not straying far from the eye shot of the 2 mariah loads of GSU (paramilitary) patrol men. When we went past a group of 3 such men (and the GSU were not longer within our line of sight) one said in Swahili "Come any closer and I'll burn your car right now." There were people trying to salvage spare parts from the wrecks that littered the road.
Olympic where we were headed was in tatters. What had once been a realtively well built up area looked like the remnants of a war zone. Shops were burnt out or looted. All through Kibera there were different political slogans and posters. Erick explained that it was in a bid to try and save their properties people displayed their allegiances. Only, once the fire starts, it can't read the hurried paint on the walls. Everyone was affected, regardless of who they might have supported.
At the children's home we had to unload very quickly to avoid being seen. Dozens of the children came out and helped to rush the provisions inside. Mama Tunza started looking after 1 child in 1997 and now looks after over 60 in what is essentially a 3 bedroom double storey shack. At least it has electricity though they lost their water supply 'when the trouble started'. The home also has a school which sees roughly 200 through its doors - especially around lunchtime when many local children come to get what is their only meal of the day.
They had been very badly hit by the post-election problems. They weren't able to get any food and Mama Tunza clearly had not been sleeping either. She said 'You see how we live here (children sleep mainly 4 a bed and it is very crowded). If a fire were to start we would all perish. I have to be alert to raise alarm in case of any danger.' Children were still arriving and she couldn't turn any away - but then again she had nothing for them either.
I filmed what I could but EricK said we should not stay for too long. People would start to wonder what we were doing at the home and if we had brought food. As we were driving out we came across a procession of the Alegio Maria Church praying for peace. Erick pointed out a group of young men who have been keeping a record of what has been going on - I would have like to have talked with them but remembered Erick's prayer before we went in 'Let God be our guide'. Ahead there were a couple of men who were trying to clean up the street. They stopped to let us pass and gave us a thumbs up sign. Despite everything they were trying to maintain some sense of decorum and keep their dignity.
If you feel after reading this that you can/ would like to help in any way - please do not hesitate to get in touch or to pass on this information to those who might be able to do so.
We loaded a pickup full of drinking water and the boot of our car with essentials such as unga (maize flour), wimbi (porridge), toilet paper, nappies, sanitary towels etc. Our destination was a Mama Tunza's children's home in the Olympic Area of Kibera. We took a different route in and went at a time when most people should be in church.
It was harder to take photos this time though the destruction we saw was worse. On most streets there were groups of young men hanging around looking tense and wary. The only 2 photojournalists we saw were not straying far from the eye shot of the 2 mariah loads of GSU (paramilitary) patrol men. When we went past a group of 3 such men (and the GSU were not longer within our line of sight) one said in Swahili "Come any closer and I'll burn your car right now." There were people trying to salvage spare parts from the wrecks that littered the road.
Olympic where we were headed was in tatters. What had once been a realtively well built up area looked like the remnants of a war zone. Shops were burnt out or looted. All through Kibera there were different political slogans and posters. Erick explained that it was in a bid to try and save their properties people displayed their allegiances. Only, once the fire starts, it can't read the hurried paint on the walls. Everyone was affected, regardless of who they might have supported.
At the children's home we had to unload very quickly to avoid being seen. Dozens of the children came out and helped to rush the provisions inside. Mama Tunza started looking after 1 child in 1997 and now looks after over 60 in what is essentially a 3 bedroom double storey shack. At least it has electricity though they lost their water supply 'when the trouble started'. The home also has a school which sees roughly 200 through its doors - especially around lunchtime when many local children come to get what is their only meal of the day.
They had been very badly hit by the post-election problems. They weren't able to get any food and Mama Tunza clearly had not been sleeping either. She said 'You see how we live here (children sleep mainly 4 a bed and it is very crowded). If a fire were to start we would all perish. I have to be alert to raise alarm in case of any danger.' Children were still arriving and she couldn't turn any away - but then again she had nothing for them either.
I filmed what I could but EricK said we should not stay for too long. People would start to wonder what we were doing at the home and if we had brought food. As we were driving out we came across a procession of the Alegio Maria Church praying for peace. Erick pointed out a group of young men who have been keeping a record of what has been going on - I would have like to have talked with them but remembered Erick's prayer before we went in 'Let God be our guide'. Ahead there were a couple of men who were trying to clean up the street. They stopped to let us pass and gave us a thumbs up sign. Despite everything they were trying to maintain some sense of decorum and keep their dignity.
If you feel after reading this that you can/ would like to help in any way - please do not hesitate to get in touch or to pass on this information to those who might be able to do so.
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