DanChurchAid
Kenya
A country and people hanging in the balance
©
Stephen H. Padre/ACT International
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| This entire section of houses and businesses in Nairobi’s slum area of Mathare was burned in the violence following the announcement of the disputed election results on December 30, 2007. Approximately 600 families who lived here are now homeless, but no lives were lost in the fire. |
By Stephen H Padre, ACT International
Mathare resident, Jacob Ogodo, 24, watched his neighborhood erupt in violence after the election. "This has been the worst experience for young people. We have never seen such a thing," said Ogodo.
Mr. Ogodo described the difficulties he and other residents have in buying food, and how houses have been burned with belongings stolen. "Women and children are innocent and suffering," he said.
Gathering on a calm day recently, some two weeks after the election, Ogodo and other young men spoke about the pressure they were under to join the violence. They are members of a community working group that promotes empowerment, Ogodo said he resisted the pressure and encouraged his peers to resist as well. "I advised them not to take part in looting," he said.
The working group is coordinated by GROOTS Kenya, a local partner of Church World Service (CWS), a member of the global alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International. CWS has been working with GROOTS Kenya in Mathare since before the election, and now, in addition to meeting the urgent physical needs of people caught up in this crisis, CWS is exploring ways to work with members of the GROOTS Kenya groups in Mathare to address some of the psychological and social issues that have arisen because of the violence.
Ogodo owns a small shop on one of Mathare’s business streets that sells batteries, cell phone cards and CDs. It was spared in the violence, but many of the others who were also lucky have kept their businesses closed for now out of fear of continued looting. Ogodo decided to keep his business open, motivated by his hope that the situation will soon improve. But the number of shoppers out during the week is down significantly, noted Ogodo.
There is a mixture of pain and optimism in Ogodo’s voice as he speaks of his neighborhood and country being torn apart but with the hope it can be reunited. "We should be living together as neighbors," he said, adding that this is especially true in this time of crisis when neighbors need to share basic food items like salt and tea that are in short supply.
Approximately 77 percent of Kenya’s population of 37 million is under the age of 29. People like Ogodo who are young participants in Kenya’s democracy are confused by the disputed election and resulting chaos and fearful of what will happen to their country.
Yet, Ogodo sees young people as part of the solution to the country’s crisis and he maintains hope for his country by living it out. He said, "I try to preach peace. After all, we are still brothers, we are still sisters, we are still neighbors."
Stephen H. Padre is a freelance journalist working in Nairobi, Kenya and is writing on behalf of Church World Service (CWS).
DanChurchAid is a member of ACT International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies.
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