Elections in Kenya

Please note: a new blog post for updates has been started since this one has grown too long. The new post can be found here.


Update (Jan. 3, 12:30 PM Central time USA): The protest expected today was blocked from taking place in the city center, so instead many of the protesters were left stuck in Kibera, angry to begin with and even more furious they were not allowed to voice their grievances as planned.

So the mob has turned back on Kibera, and has spent the day burning down more of the slums. The huge AIC church across the railroad tracks was burned today, as was the house of student Moses Mirigi and likely many more student's homes. Mama Margaret tells me that her house and Tenderfeet school have so far not been burned, but it may just be a matter of time. She will attempt to evacuate the items tomorrow by hiring a security team and a truck. You can see a map of this area here (switch to satellite view).

Frank was attacked as he attempted to assist those in danger, but is not badly hurt. Margaret's husband Daniel has not slept the past 5 nights as he has joined neighbors trying to protect the community. She says he is able to sometimes get a few hours of sleep during the day.

In Eldoret, Nick will spend another night outside of the police station, and has been approached by many in the community who have received assistance. Most have not had a meal in days. Lucy's father will attempt to send Lucy, her sister Shiro, and their mother to a safer location tomorrow while he remains behind.

Wire transfers will be sent this afternoon to hopefully be picked up tomorrow in Eldoret and Nairobi. Thank you to those who have responded with donations. 100% of money received will be feeding hungry children and victims of the riots as soon as tomorrow. If you would like to help, please visit this page.

Update (Jan. 2, 11:30 PM Central time USA): It's morning in Kenya, and in general the country seems to be settling down. However, Raila Odinga is attempting to mount a massive demonstration in Nairobi today to protest the election and declare himself the true winner. The Kibaki government has promised to block roads and prevent the protest, so it will be a volatile situation in Nairobi. Most who are not strong Raila supporters are planning to stay indoors and avoid trouble.

I spoke briefly with Margaret, Nick, Nick's wife Mary, and Lucy's father David. All are safe and OK, though food shortages are becoming more and more of a concern. Soon it could become critical. The need for security has meant all transportation is being severely limited, which has caused the shipment of food and other supplies to be greatly hindered.

Our prayers are that today will be peaceful and life can return to normal in Kenya.

Update (Jan. 2, 12:30 PM Central time USA): It's 9:30 PM in Kenya, and Nick will stay outside the police station overnight, along with a large crowd that are there for safety. He is extremely relieved. He believes the situation in Eldoret may be stabilizing, though tensions are still high.

Nick reports that Agripina and her family are safe at the College. Nick's wife and children are remaining for the time being in Nairobi where they are doing well in a secure part of town.

Mama Margaret has withdrawn some emergency funds and bought enough food and supplies for those in Kibera she knows that are suffering, such as Teacher Karen, Frank, and some of the families of students. Kibera is in terrible shape after the fires and looting, but things have settled down at the present time. Margaret still doesn't feel safe in Kibera, so she continues to spend the nights in nearby Dagoretti at her sister's house.

There is a planned large demonstration for the challenger in Nairobi tomorrow that could cause another outbreak of violence. Please pray that the current relative peace in Nairobi will continue despite whatever demonstrations take place.

Update (Jan. 1, 11:30 PM Central time USA): I just spoke with Nick. David has escorted him safely out of Munyaka, which was the hard part since he had to make it through a potentially hostile population.

He was then able to walk in to Eldoret and is now safe at last.

Nick has tried to contact Agripina Angote who is part of the SCF team but has not gotten through. He believes she may be staying at the Missionary College right now for safety.

Margaret says that in Kibera, the Luo agitators have agreed to stop causing problems, but the damage is extensive. Overall, life is returning to normal in Nairobi though tensions are still high. She will go to the bank today and withdraw the current balance to give emergency assistance to some she knows in desperate situations. The monthly wire transfer should be sent later in the week with additional funds for relief and school operations. It's possible the school will resume in the next few weeks.

Update (Jan. 1, 11:30 AM Central time USA): Mama Margaret reports that conditions in Nairobi have improved significantly, though she is choosing to stay in Dagoretti a while longer before returning to Kibera. Frank, Teachers Karen and Elizabeth, and others in the Tenderfeet family are all OK.

The price of groceries have shot up, for instance a small container of milk went from 20 to 50 shillings in the last week. Frank's house was looted, but friends were able to move some items out before the looters arrived.

The situation Eldoret has gotten worse in many respects. The most horrible incident involved a church filled with Kikuyu's taking refuge that was burned, with as many as 30 or more (including women and children) being killed. The story is here.

Nick remains in his house, though he now has some food and there are police and military patrols to control looting and violence in Munyaka. Jennifer is currently safe in nearby Hawaii (a Nandi community), but tells me that some Nandi thugs were hunting for Kikuyu in the area. Since she is Nandi, she was left alone. I also spoke with Sven Hofmann, the German social worker visiting for 5 months. He is in the town of Eldoret and is safe in his compound, but says it is too dangerous to leave his room.

Everyone's fear is that the church episode will spark a new round of reprisals and violence, especially in Eldoret.

Update (Jan. 1, 12:30 AM Central time USA): The situation seems to be improving in Nairobi and perhaps Eldoret as well. Margaret reports that there has been no recent looting or violence in the Kibera area (she is still in Dagoretti, but her husband Daniel is informing her of the conditions in Kibera). Margaret's house and the school are still intact and everyone is doing well, hoping for some normalcy to return to Nairobi.

Things are more difficult for Nick, who has been hiding in a crawlspace above his ceiling since yesterday. 5 potentially dangerous men came in at one point and were occupying his house for several hours, eating his food. He is quite scared for his safety, but Lucy's father David (who is on the security council for the Kikuyu slum of Munyaka) has just stopped by (at 8:30 AM Kenya time) and told Nick that he should stay put for now. David said it's not a good idea for a Nandi to be in the currently hostile streets of Munyaka.

As long as Nick stays in his house, no one should disturb him at this point, according to David. The only people going house to house are the security team. And if anyone should come in to harm Nick, Nick can contact David who will be closeby to intervene.

Update (Dec. 31, 9:00 AM Central time USA): Looting, violence, and arson have continued but everyone mentioned in the updates below is safe. Tribal killings have continued, and in places like Munyaka and Silas, the women and children are staying in church compounds for safety. Nick will try to make it into Eldoret tomorrow because he feels it is dangerous for him to stay in Munyaka. Margaret will remain in Dagoretti for the next few days to wait and see what happens.

Read more here.

Now the additional problem of having enough to eat is becoming a real concern. So many shops have been looted and burned that it will be difficult to buy food even if things settle down.

Please continue to keep in your prayers our friends in Kenya and the millions of innocent people who are suffering because of a violent few. I asked Jennifer and Margaret if they have ever witnessed anything in Kenya like this in their lifetimes (both are in their forties), and they both said nothing compares to this.

Update (Dec. 30, 11:30 PM Central time USA): It was a terrible night in Kenya as rioting continued throughout cities across the country, including Kibera and Eldoret. Houses and shops were burned throughout Sunday afternoon and night. Tribal violence has continued to escalate. Read more here.

In Kibera, thugs from the Luo tribe were targeting Kikuyu businesses and residents, who are in the minority and seen as the enemy. Mama Margaret (who is Kikuyu) and her family stayed with a Luo neighbor who kept them safe through the night.

Monday morning (Kenya time), Margaret set off on foot for her sister's place an hour away in Dagoretti (where it is calmer), and I spoke with her when she arrived safely. She feels it is no longer safe for her in Kibera. Her husband Daniel (a member of the Kisi tribe) and Shadrack (a Luo) will be able to remain safely in Kibera for the time being. The school and Margaret's house have not been burned or looted at this time. Frank Atieli is OK.

Nick is remaining in his house because he is in a community of Kikuyu now hostile towards his tribe (Nandi). Lucy's father David (a Kikuyu) is part of the community security force and is keeping Nick safe and informed. Nick's wife and children are safe in a peaceful part of Nairobi. Jennifer Cheserek is also OK.

Update (Dec. 30, 9:00 AM Central time USA): The news from Kenya is that everybody is OK right now, but the results have just been announced that the current president has won the election. This has caused supporters of the challenger to lash out and tensions are higher than ever. Please pray for Mama Margaret and her family in Kibera, where many of the problems have been taking place.

Update (Dec. 29, 11:00 PM Central time USA): I just spoke with Margaret's husband Daniel as well as Nick (Sunday morning in Kenya). Although the problems with looting and violence have continued, Margaret, Nick and their families are still safe. Everyone is awaiting the results of the election. The results are possibly going to be announced on Sunday.

A presidential election took place this past Thursday, December 27. It's been a close race that splits the country along tribal lines. As of 5:00 PM Saturday (Kenya time), the election is still too close to call and the delays have escalated tensions. Please read more here.

The two Lahash projects in Kenya, Tenderfeet Education Center (in Kibera) and Silas Christian Foundation (in Eldoret) are unfortunately located in trouble hotspots.

I've called Mama Margaret, Nick Kemboi and several other friends in these areas and they are OK. Nevertheless, they report there is looting, arson, violence, tribal clashes, and chaos. Margaret and Nick are both locked in their compounds behind iron doors waiting for things to hopefully settle down.

The tribes that are involved are the Kikuyu tribe (supporting the current president) and the Nandi and Luo tribes (supporting the challenger). It just so happens that Margaret is a Kikuyu surrounded by Luos and Nick is a Nandi surrounded by Kikuyus (a small community of Kikuyu who are surrounded by a larger community of Nandi!). So both project leaders are in a delicate situation, though both are well-known and respected in their communities.

Please pray for our friends in Kenya and the nation as a whole that the results will be announced soon and will be accepted by everyone.

Update on Mama Margaret

A quick update on Mama Margaret. A previous post described the tragic situation of her father being killed. Since then, her family has been working hard at fundraising and have made some progress.

The money they have raised, together with generous donations from wonderful friends in Rhode Island and Canada mean that the family now has enough to cover the funeral costs. What seemed impossible only a few days ago is now a reality.

On behalf of Mama Margaret, thank you and God Bless you for your prayers and concern.

Sad News From Kenya

Tragedy has come again to Tenderfeet. The terrible news is that Mama Margaret's father was killed by thugs on Friday. He lived 4 hours from Nairobi. After hearing the news, Margaret travelled to be at her parent's home with the family over the weekend.

Margaret's family has spent the weekend trying to comfort each other in their shock and heartbreak.

The family is now trying to raise funds for his funeral expenses which will be several hundred dollars. Please keep this situation in your prayers.

If you would like to assist Margaret in the funds for her father's funeral, please contact dmitchell@lahash.net or you can make an online donation. For online donations, please choose "other" and type "Tenderfeet Funeral" in the Donation Destination field.

Tragedy Comes to Tenderfeet

Tragedy has come to Tenderfeet. Unfortunately, what has happened is not unusual in the horrible conditions of the slums.

One of the parents of a student has died. Jeffson Ochoki (see picture to the right) is a 5 year old student at Tenderfeet, whose two older brothers had also attended the school. Mama Margaret has known and cared about this family for many years. Both parents were HIV positive. Their father's health has prevented him from working for some time now, and he has basically withdrawn from life, spending most of the time in bed, silently shutting out the world.

Their mother, Jane, had done everything possible to pick up the slack. She worked tirelessly as she struggled to earn enough to pay for rent and groceries. On a good month, she could earn $50-$70 by washing other peoples' clothes in a small washtub and doing other odd jobs she was able to find. With this income, the family might just get by, as long as there were no surprises or emergencies.

Unfortunately, the weather in Nairobi has been cold and damp for months (at almost 6000 ft elevation it often gets quite chilly). This, on top of her HIV, having her hands always in the cold water of washtubs as well as the unsanitary conditions of Kibera, probably led to Jane developing a case of pneumonia.

Because her family didn't have the $30 on hand that it would take to go to the doctor or get medication, her condition got worse and she died in her bed this week. Usually, when a parent or guardian gets sick, Mama Margaret and the Tenderfeet team (together with Lahash donors) spring into action and make sure the parent or guardian receives proper medical attention. Jacklyn Otieno (who is now much-improved, see picture to the right) is a single mother whose life was recently saved this way. Shadrack's life was also saved through his brain surgery.

Time and time again, Tenderfeet has come to the rescue of the desperately ill. Sadly, Margaret was away on school business while school was out on break, and didn't hear about what happened until she got back and it was too late. Our hearts are broken by this cruel and needless loss of life. Now the four children are essentially orphans, since their father is physically and mentally unable to take care of them.

When you think that $30 probably could have saved Jane, it becomes clear how important every donation is. Many donors are already making a huge difference for these children and their community. For more information about getting involved, please email dmitchell@lahash.net.

Tenderfeet News

School is out in the month of August in Kenya, and this includes Tenderfeet. But still much is going on. A potential new site has been identified for the school in a much better area of Kibera.

Partial progress was made this past week on a land survey. In Kenya, an official survey is a multi-step process. First, the existence of the plot area itself must be checked in person and the records are then put together.

The next step is to measure the edges of the plot itself and where it lies on the map. This is supposed to take place tomorrow (August 20). Lahash treasurer Leisha Adams and her father Sam visited last week and met the landowner, Margaret Wambui (see picture to the right, where they enjoy a meal at Mama Margaret's house). When the survey is finished, we should have a good idea of how much money must be raised to purchase the plot.

In other news, Shadrack is responding well to being taken off his medication. As mentioned before, following his surgery in March, has has been kept on medication to keep his body stable while it recovers. According to the doctors, everything looks good so far. What a long and difficult journey it's been, but what a blessing to see how well he is doing now!

Unfortunately, things have not gone as well for Jacklyn Otieno lately. Recall that Jacklyn's son Collins (pictured below right) attends Tenderfeet, and Jacklyn has received assistance while she struggles with her health problems. After seeing her health improve for a few months, she had a bad fall which has severely injured her legs. She was able to get X-rays which showed no bones were broken. However, the pain has been so bad, she has not even been able to walk. There is a chance it was a muscle or ligament tear.

Yesterday, Frank Atieli and Mama Margaret's husband Daniel took Jacklyn groceries and pain medication prescribed by the doctor (Mama Margaret is visiting a cousin out of town). When they arrived, the situation was quite serious. The family (Jacklyn and her two children) had run out of money and had not been getting enough to eat.

Collins was in tears because of his hunger and concern for his mother. Thanks to Lahash donors, the family received a real boost and is now eating better, and Jacklyn will get continued medical help. Please pray for this family that they will overcome the severe hardships they have been facing.

News About Lucy

Lucy is a 10-year old girl with physical disabilities that has been receiving assistance from the Silas Christian Foundation. Lucy's parents have not been able to keep up with the medical costs associated with the nerve damage at the root of Lucy's problems, but Lahash donors have ensured that she gets the help she needs.

Dan recently posted that Lucy was discharged from the hospital, but unfortunately that didn't go through as everyone expected. In fact, her condition only has gotten worse. She was a patient in the Eldoret hospital for almost 3 weeks for treatment of Malaria and seriously infected sores on her legs. The sores were caused by the braces she wears (pictured below right) because she is unable to walk by herself due to her damaged nerves -- she was a conjoined twin separated as an infant, and the nerve damage was caused by the separation surgery.

The doctors decided Lucy needed a skin graft to repair the severely affected areas. Sadly, the care she received during the three weeks was often quite poor and the sores became even more infected and the graft kept being postponed. It looked more and more like Lucy's condition would continue deteriorating with little hope for improvement.

Finally, Nick and Dr. Oronje decided to transfer her to the AIC Hospital in Kijabe, where she has received excellent care in the past. The hope was that in Kijabe, she would at last get the proper attention she deserved. She was discharged from the Eldoret hospital Thursday and traveled to Kijabe on an overnight bus ride (the trip can often take up to 8 hours).

She arrived in Kijabe Friday morning and was seen by doctors at the hospital. They decided the bacterial infection had to be eliminated before a skin graft could be attempted. Fortunately, the treatment of the infection can be done at home by her mother Monicah, who was shown the proper way to treat and clean the sores. Lucy received antibiotics and medication to ensure the quickest recovery. In another month, the situation will be reevaluated and if she is ready, Lucy will get the skin graft. Since she won't be able to attend school in the meantime, Nick has arranged for her to work on homework and assignments from home.

Please remember Lucy and her family as they try to get past this problem. It's been a deeply discouraging experience for everyone involved, including Nick, because so much of the suffering was unnecessary. Nevertheless, now there is a new optimism that things will improve for Lucy.

Ten for Tenderfeet Launched

First, please note we have officially launched the Ten for Tenderfeet sponsorship program. Please check it out and see how you can join the Tenderfeet team in serving the desperately poor children of Africa's largest slum.

The school resumed this week. Classes are still meeting at the church, and though the pastor has allowed them to stay a few more days, they are expected to move out as soon as possible.

Some construction remains for the new building. Plywood must be put up on the walls to protect the children from being injured by the bare metal edges. In addition, a latrine needs to be completed, and wiring needs to be installed for classroom lights. Lastly, the kitchen will need to be finished.

Shadrack's Surgery

The Tenderfeet school is still at the church awaiting the new floors to be installed in the new building. Matters have been put on hold as the Tenderfeet team has dealt with Shadrack's surgery and recovery, as well as the illness of both Mama Margaret's son Ezra as well as Teacher Karen's son, Ian. Fortunately, the church where the school is currently located has allowed Tenderfeet to stay several more days.

The school will be in recess on Good Friday, April 6th, and the following week. During the week school is out, the steps to move the school will be finalized. The children will still be fed while school is out, but no lessons will be taught.

A Lease is Signed for the New Building

Good news! The lawyer was hired, and the lease agreement for the school's new building was signed Friday, March 23. This was a huge step for the school. The rented building -- though it still leaves a lot to be desired -- will nevertheless be a major improvement over the previous locations of the school.

Nick Kipkorir traveled seven hours by bus from Eldoret to assist Margaret with the paperwork and details. He was a big help to Mama Margaret during this stressful process.

The building is still partly under construction. The three rooms which will serve as classrooms are complete and will have concrete floors installed (currently, there's only dirt) in time for the arrival of the students on April 2nd. The remaining three rooms are still under construction by the landlord. They will eventually serve as a kitchen and additional teaching space.

Also, thank you for your prayers for Samantha, Mama Margaret's daughter. She has recovered from her illness and has returned to school.

More pictures and news are coming soon!

A New Location For Tenderfeet

It's been a hectic month at Tenderfeet. As you may recall, the school will have to vacate the church where they are currently located by the end of this month. So Mama Margaret has been searching for a new location, all the while shuttling Shadrack back and forth to the hospital for his MRI, test results, and waiting to talk to the surgeon (more on Shadrack here) .

In addition, Margaret's 11-year-old daughter, Samantha, has been sick with Malaria.

Please pray for Mama Margaret, Samantha, Shadrack, and the Tenderfeet school. It's been a rough few weeks!

Hopefully, though, this difficult period has been the darkness before the dawn. Things are looking up -- Shadrack's surgery is likely to be next week, Samantha was treated at the hospital and seems to be on the road to recovery, and a new school location has been found.

Also, Mama Margaret and the Tenderfeet leadership team have been fortunate to recently have the kind assistance of Lahash's East Africa Coordinator, Edwin Angote (pictured here with Dan Holcomb, Lahash president).

The new location is a six-room building in the Kianda Area of Kibera. Each room is only 10 feet by 12 feet, so it will be a tight squeeze. But the school will certainly benefit from the increased stability.

The next steps in the move will come in quick succession. A lawyer needs to be hired, in order that a one-year lease can be signed. This is to prevent any more arbitrary evictions, like the three that have occurred in the past year.

Next, a floor has to be poured in the new building, at least in the 3 rooms that will be designated as classrooms. Lastly, the school furniture and supplies will have to be moved over to the new spot. Much more on the move will be shared as events unfold.

There are definitely some financial hurdles ahead. The lawyer will cost around $250, the floor will be around $400, and the rent at the new facility will be $180 per month. If you would like to get involved, please contact Lahash. Also, please stay tuned as we roll out a new sponsorship program in the next few weeks.