Things coming together....

Some of you have been asking what life is like in Nairobi. The last three weeks have been highly unusual to say the least. I live in an area called Riara not far off Ngong Rd which is a main artery from the city centre to the town of Ngong, south of the city.

Kibera is to the south east of us and close enough for us to have seen smoke rising as parts of it burnt. We have become accustomed to the sound of police helicopters flying overhead and gunshots in the afternoon.

The recent three days of protests have seen the police using live ammunition to disperse protesters in Nairobi. Though they had already been doing so in Kisumu where over 100 people were found in the morgue with bullet wounds, some women and children.

It is now a common sight to see riot police and paramilitaries all over Nairobi. The inital restraint that they showed evaporated quickly. A group of 70 middle class women organised a peaceful protest last week in Hurlingham a well - to- do suburb. Most were mothers and grandmothers and one mother was even carrying a baby. The police dispersed the gathering with tear gas! A friend of mine who saw it happen said it was horrible. However, at least they were not killed.

The extra-judicial killings are becoming alarming. Unarmed protesters are being shot at even as they run away. Locally the live media ban continues although the country eagerly watched the opening of parliament and the election of an opposition speaker of the house. Ethnically the country remains polarised and tribalism is at an all time high. Unfortunately a lot of the international media over-simplifies the situation. Kibera for example is often referred to as an opposition stronghold.

Although this is true the groups I am working with include people that voted for the incumbent (Kibaki) and for the opposition (Raila). At one meeting I attended a woman walked in wearing a pro-Kibaki T-Shirt. She had come from another part of Kibera wearing it and had not been attacked en route and obviously felt safe waering it. I emphasize this because there are 2 other parts to the post-election violence.

The power struggle between young and old and the conflict between the rich and poor.

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE:
I agreed with the groups that I wouldn't return to Kibera during the 3 days of mass action. I must say though I felt rather bad about it, there I was looking out for my own safety and they had no choice.

I received a call from Erick on Thursday. The men had already started to dig a well for the carwash as well as put up makeshift structures in anticipation of the money required to buy the equipment.This was confirmed by the treasurer when we met Friday morning to go to the bank. He said wearily that the mass action was now slowing them down. Everytime they had tried to congregate to carry on the police had dispersed them.

On Friday last week I went to the bank with the treasurer from the men's and the women's group. It was ostensibly to bank the 50,000KSh that was going to the men's and 55,000KSh that was going to the women's group.They were to take the deposit slips to the groups as proof of the money's existence. Although this may seem a rather protracted way of doing things I decided that I was not going to carry money into Kibera for obvious reasons.

When the groups were ready for the money I would return to the bank with them and withdraw it again for their use. Another reason for going to the bank with them is the account we have set up belongs to Erick's youth group. I am trying to encourage the other two groups to become more formalised in their financial matters. As the money that many of you have kindly donated belongs to the group I am trying to get them to open group bank accounts.

The meeting at the bank went well and the manager agreed that when the accounts are opened in the near future it would be on the same terms as the youth group account - i.e. reduced charges and next day cheque clearing etc. as they are community groups.

Today (Wednesday) I got a phonecall from the chairwoman of the women's group. She had identified 12 women who would start businesses and were readyto go. We hope to get the funds to them as soon as possible and then go for a progress visit.

We have also had a wonderful offer from a paediatrician who has a lot of experience working in difficult/ restricted conditions as well as an occupational therapist who specializes in childhood disorders to set up a clinic at the chidlren's home.

Those of you who have sent money to be used at the children's home we are going to use it to get the basic supplies required to get the clinic going. Initially the clinic is going to run one day a week and should look after the health needs of the children in the area.

As the paediatrician has previously worked with MSF (Doctors without Borders) she is going to use her connections to be able to refer any children that need specialist or in-patient care to their facilities.

STOP PRESS:
The government has recently (amongst serious controversy) annouced that all camps homing displaced people are to be shut in the next week. These people do not have a home to go to but apprently they are costing a lot of money and the country is now deemed safe.

Intenational mediators continue to arrive. This week sees Kofi Annan (former UN Secretary General), Graca Machel (wife to Nelson mandela and seasoned activist), Benjamin Mkapa (former Tanzanian president) and Yoweri Museveni (curent Ugandan President).

The political standstill continues.

Sorry I did not manage to get this email out to you during the week. It is now Saturday (26th) and the men's group have received 50,000 KSH (about 360 pounds) and the carwash is well underway. I visited the site and the work seems to be going well.

The women's group have received 60,000KSh (about 430 pounds) and 12 women are going to start up businesses next week. The next email I send you will have photos of all of the aforementioned progress.

The French government sponsored food-for-work project has also started well. They have employed Erick as a facilitator so he is going to be able to realise a dream of learning how to drive soon.

The website should also be updated in the next few days detailing contributions and exactly how they have been used so that you can see what money has come in and where it has gone. Thank you all once again for your support.

Also this week I will be sending out to those of you who have asked details of specific supplies the children's home needs. Sorry if i have been a bit slow with some of this but it is only me - no big office structure trying to get everything done.

I would just like to remind you all that it has been less than a month since I first visited Kibera. In an age where it is often so easy to get cynical abouut whether or not change can take place already it has.

There are 92 people who have a lot more hope than they did a month ago. 1 of them has a new job, 12 are re-starting businesses they lost and 62 are pooling together into 4 joint ventures to be able to support themselves, their families and their communities.