Jan 1, Dorothy Selebwa (Kakamega orphanage) via Sukie Rice

New Years Day, 1:00 pm

Dear friends

I have just spoken with Dorothy and am wanting to share with you what she said about the situation in Kenya now.

As you may have been reading in the news, there are riots all over Kenya because of the disputed election. Kibaki has been declared the winner by the Electoral Commission but there have been many irregularities; EU observers have said there needs to be a recount
and even some of the Elec. Commissioners say there should be a recount. But Kibaki stands firm that he has won and Odinga should concede.

The rioting is primarily between Odinga’s tribe (Luo) and Kibaki’s (Kikuyu) and it has been focused in the areas where there is a mixture of the tribes: Nairobi (the capital), Kisumu (the western largest city, on Lake Victoria), Mombassa (on the coast) and El Dorit (also in the west). But it has spread into many other cities as well, including Kakamega.

Dorothy said it is terrible. People are being beaten and killed. The streets of Kakamega are totally empty... all stores closed down. Only police and General Staff (like our National Guard) are in the streets with their rifles. The stores own by Kikuyu are all
burned and Kikuyu owned cars have been pushed over and torched. Police have been been killing people. No one can leave their homes and there is a decline in food. She says people are already going hungry because they cannot get to stores.

Dorothy’s family are ALL with her and her husband Evans in Shimanyero.... a village 25 minutes bike ride outside of Kakamega town. They had gone home for Christmas and are staying there because there are clashes all over Nairobi. All except Wycliffe who
is locked in his home in Nairobi. Dorothy says they have sweet potatoes from the short harvest and other grains but people are coming from around asking for food. There is movement in Shimanyero because it is all pretty much Luyha and there is no fighting there. But the few shops are all sold out. She fears that people will be starving very soon.

She said there is no petrol so there is no traveling for anyone. Much of the news has been blacked-out. The Odinga rally in Nakuru was met by a wall of police. (My understanding is the police force is greatly made up of the tribe of whoever is president, so the police will be loyal to Kibaki.)

In Eldorit a large number of Kikuyu went into a church seeking refuge. It was burned and over 35 people were burned to death. The streets of Kisumu, Mombasa and others are deserted except for police.

The Care Centre children had gone back to their guardians for Christmas and have been told to stay there until all settles down. (The CC is in Kakamega town on a side road.) So they are safe. I don’t know how the feeding program children are doing as there is no feeding program going on since the clashes began, and they are in Kakamega town. There will be no schools opening for some time. And the high schools certainly won’t open for a while because they have students from all tribal backgrounds.

Dorothy had recently gone to the Congo with a Friends United Meeting mission visit. She came back and said in an email, “Last week i was in Congo the situation there is pathetic, lack of food, Sanitary Education Shelter and even Health Care. We came back and thanked God for our country Kenya.”

Kenya has been THE stable government for East Africa for 30 years. But this is the first time they have had close elections.

Dorothy asks that we pray for Kenya. I told her I was praying. She said, “Then pray harder.” And so I ask you to join me in prayer ... consciously twice a day until the election results are resolved and the violence ends. (It always seems that new years day
is a day needing prayers.)

Thank you.
Sukie