Jan 14, Report 18, David Zarembka

JFrom: David Zarembka
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 7:56 AM
Subject: AGLI--Report from Kenya--Jan 14


Dear All,

I didn't really write an update yesterday because it was Sunday and I was resting
(well, sort of resting). My "Hoodwinked" article seems to have drawn considerable
attention and may get published.

When we went to church yesterday, we found about one hundred 200 pound bags of
maize (corn) in the back. After church, I asked George, the owner, why they were
there. He replied that he had a big farm on the other side of the road where the
Kalenjin are the dominate ethnic group. He feels he is the next target. "When they
finish with the Kikuyu, they will then come for me." He has moved out all his furniture
and taken it to the homes of his relatives nearby. This is another small indication that
the violence is not essentially political, but a chance to plunder and loot. Today I
heard two reports of cows being stolen. In the past this rarely happened in Lumakanda.

This morning, Gladys (my wife), and I went to Turbo where the Lumakanda IDP's have
been transferred. I had heard that Turbo had experienced a rough time during the
violence; but it is another thing to actually see an entire block of shops burned out.
Many other shops in the town were destroyed. Some were wooden and burned up
completely. After viewing the destruction we climbed the hill to the police station and
found our "refugees."

They were most happy to see us. "You have followed us here," was a common comment.
The women, in particular, were very pleased and welcoming to Gladys who had been part
of the contingent that had brought them the first allotment of food. The refugees have
been placed in a just-harvested corn field so there isn't even any grass. For the first
night(s) they were sleeping on the ground in the open. Now, men were building eucalyptus
pole houses with plastic tops and sides. A few had found iron sheets (perhaps salvaged
from their burnt shops or houses) which make a more substantial wall. The wind is
blowing very hard, almost constantly, so the plastic tarps were flapping loudly. I would
think this din would make it hard to sleep at night; I guess they will get used to it.

The people in the camp told us that they had not received anything since they arrived
from Lumakanda two days befor . Not surprisingly, blankets were their first request.
They had clearly enjoyed the rice we delivered previously. Predictably it had run out
since there were only two 50 kilo (110 pound) bags. The American Friends Service
Committee (AFSC) has sent us a small grant for the Lumakanda IDP's. We hope to go to
Eldoret tomorrow to buy more relief supplies; but then one never knows.

Parliament begins sessions tomorrow and both sides plan on sitting on the Government side
of the building so this might lead to a crisis there. There are three days of demostrations
scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Desmond Tutu raised hopes which were
dashed; John Kufour, the African Union president, raised hopes which were dashed. Now
Kofi Annan is scheduled to arrive tomorrow along with a few other eminent Africans. People
are not getting up their hopes again.

Human Rights Watch has issued a strong statement against the Kenyan Government for using
excessive force ("shoot to kill" policy) during the crackdowns, restricting the media, and
the illegal ban against demostrations.

Peace,
Dave


David Zarembka, Coordinator
African Great Lakes Initiative/ Friends Peace Teams
Box 189, Kipkarren River 50241 Kenya--phone 011 254 726 590 783
Office in US--1001 Park Avenue, St Louis, MO 63104--phone 314/621-7262