|
This
summary has been prepared by Singa James, Communications
Officer of the Diocese of Kitui, Eastern Province, Kenya
Tuesday,
February 05, 2008 :
KENYANS HOPEFUL, AS KIBAKI AND RAILA TALK
BUT
FAMINE LOOMS FOR KITUI AS RAINS FAIL
Kenyans
are holding breath as they await eagerly the outcome of the
mediation process between the President Kibaki’s Party of
National Unity (PNU) and Mr Raila Odinga’s
Orange
democratic Movement (ODM).
And
as the Koffi Annan -led mediation process currently goes on
in
Nairobi
, the
country is calming down.
As a
result, the government yesterday (February 4th,
2008) lifted the media ban on live coverage that was
imposed on December 30th, 2007, following
spontaneous and wide spread outbreak of violent activities
that resulted from the controversial December 27th
presidential poll, after the Electoral Commission of Kenya
(ECK) announced Mwai Kibaki the winner, an announcement
that ODM rejected.
At the
same time, transportation of goods and people to western
parts of the country has resumed after calm embraced most
volatile areas of Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and
Kakamega and environs.
On a more
promising note; the members of parliament from both
political divide have buckled under pressure from the
church, civil organizations, and international community to
take a leading role in toning down tensions in the violent
zones.
Last week
gangs of youth in Nakuru and Naivasha, in what was seen as
a revenge mission, violently rose up against certain
communities whom they ‘accused’ of attacking, robbing,
displacing or killing their kin in several areas in the
Rift Valley.
During
this time, two members of parliament, Mugabe Were of
Nairobi city’s populaous Embakasy constituency, and David
Kimutai of Ainamoi Constituency were slain. This has since
raised tensions in some areas, despite the peace efforts
being made. The most affected zone is Sotik, in Rift
Valley.
The
effects of violence in the last three weeks or four weeks
are conspicuous.
Thousands
of Kenyans still remain displaced. As the government
encourages them to return to their homes or residences,
fear for new wave of attacks is so high that those who can
are migrating to areas viewed as their communities
“home”, while those from urban areas are going back to
their rural areas.
Kitui,
like many other parts Central, Eastern and North eastern
provinces, has remained calm through out the violence, and
as a result, the 2008 academic year in primary, secondary,
vocational and middle colleges has taken off.
However,
education process in North Rift valley, western and Nyanza
provinces has been adversely affected. Students in Kitui,
and other calm areas, who study in secondary schools,
colleges and universities in these provinces, are still at
home. Also, students and teachers in violence-rocked areas
are relocating to schools in safer areas. This is causing
congestion especially in Kitui
This is
raising the fear that this disruption would affect the
performance during the national examinations, especially in
primary, secondary and colleges scheduled to be at the end
of the year.
Also with
so much destruction of property, famine is looming. During
the violent skirmishes, food farms were set ablaze, in the
North Rift Valley, a region that the country depends on
production of cereals.
Kitui is
expected to experience the effects since the rains here
have also failed.
Sadder
news is the fact that over 500,000 jobs are said to have
been lost so far, and many families are suffering as the
economy continue performing poorly.
Among
the worst affected sectors are Tourism, transport and
manufacturing sector. In this, Kitui is not spared either,
and this is threatening livelihoods of families here.
However,
Annan’s mediation efforts, and commitment of president
Kibaki and Mr. Raila Odinga to the process are raising
expectations and hopes of many Kenyans to find a long
lasting peaceful solution.
There is
a general agreement across the board that the real issues
that caused violence are more than the controversial
December 27th polls: Land issues, unequal
distribution of resources in the country, tribal
animosities, as well as wide gap between the rich and the
poor need to be addressed to avoid a repeat of incidents of
the last four weeks, as well as heal the country.
Situation
in Kitui- January 3rd 2008
Though the election related violent activities have
engulfed this country (Kenya) several areas have remained
relatively calm. Of the eight provinces in Kenya (Nyanza,
Western, Rift Valley; Nairobi; Coast; Central; Eastern and
North Eastern Provinces), the last three (Central, Eastern
and North Eastern Provinces) have not been adversely
affected by the skirmishes.
The Catholic Diocese of Kitui lies in the southern parts
of the Eastern Province.
Violence has been experienced in the coastal city of
Mombasa, In Nairobi, especially in the slum (informal
settlement) areas of Kibera, and Mathare; in Kisumu city in
Nyanza, Kakamega town in western province.
However, more sustained violent activities have been
experienced in Eldoret town and its environs in Rift
Valley. This is the area where, according to the figures
provided by the Police, 40 people, majority being children
and women died when the church they had sought refuge,
Kiambaa Assemblies of God church near Eldoret Town, was set ablaze by unknown attackers on the eve of
New Year.
The official figures of the dead since Electoral
Commission of Kenya Chairman Samuel Kivuitu declared the
incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of Party of National Unity
party the winner of the controversial elections on 31st;
December 2007 has been put at over 300, with several
hundred injured, and thousands more internally and
externally displaced.
Though there is relative tranquility in this (Kitui
Diocese) area, gloom is evident. This is because
inhabitants here have relatives all over. Also majority of
the breadwinners in many families in our diocese work in
these towns/ cities that have been affected by violence.
While violence victims have been rendered homeless;
seeking shelter in police stations churches, schools and
open fields, thousands more have been trapped in their
homes in affected areas, with no food and water.
With the government banning live transmission in Radio
and Television Stations in what was termed by the
Government spokes man Dr. Alfred Mutua as an effort to tone
down anxiety, has in fact increased it hundredfold.
Inaccessibility of airtime cards for mobile phones until
late on 2nd January, 2008, in the country
brought communication into disarray, hence creating recipe
for rumors and other unsubstantiated claims, exacerbating
anxiety of those in our diocese over their loved ones in
violence-hit areas.
Prior to 27th December Elections, Kenyans were
looking forward to a January that was very promising.
In the troubled regions and towns, virtually all
industries, food stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and
other businesses for basic commodities of consumption
closed down leading to a major food shortage. With stopped
production of the basic commodities in towns, rural areas
(read: Kitui Diocese) have suffered since they rely on
supplies from these towns.
With the current impasse, prices for basic commodities
have soared, as the supply dwindle. A two kilogram packet
of maize flour that in early December was costing 60 Kenya
shilling now costs Kshs. 100.00, as the food stocks in
major retail shops around are drying up.
Today is the fifth day since most stations’ pumps dried
up in Kitui town. Despite this, there are long queues of
vehicles. Only one fuel station had some reserves which
were sold selectively at exorbitant prices. This has soared
transport fares beyond the reach of people here, who depend
on available public transport system.
Our Secretariat has not been spared either of fuel
shortage, and this is affecting several projects and
programmes in the diocese. Most of the staff can’t go out
to the field as most of our vehicles and motorbikes lack
fuel. This is expected to worsen, unless the way out of the
current political impasse is found.
Most families in Kitui depend on kerosene as source of
light at night, and all kerosene pumps in Kitui and Mwingi,
major rural towns in Kitui Diocese, have dried up!
Students in Primary and secondary schools
who were to open on Monday of 7th, 2008 have to
stay at home for another week following the government’s
direction 2nd, January. Public Universities are
also postponing opening dates.
Also, there is fear that the current turmoil threatens
the gains achieved in provision of better and affordable
health services.
Public and private transport system, especially to towns/
Cities has been grounded due to violence. Cases are rampant
about public services being set ablaze by marauding youths
in troubled, and thus, owners have opted to keep their
vehicles out of the road.
So many people who came to join their families for
December holiday and elections can not travel back, and
this is threatening livelihood of many families here, since
most of the breadwinners are casual workers in these towns.
There is still hope that a way forward is to be found
soon for the current stand-off.
The Catholic Church in Kenya through 24 bishops
(Including our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Martin
Kivuva Musonde), yesterday urged for dialogue between
President Kibaki and Mr. Raila Odinga (Orange Democratic
Movement party’s presidential candidate in the
controversial elections) as a means to stop the current
blood shed amidst calls and pressure locally and
internationally for the two dialogue and safe the country
further agony.
The Catholic Church has called for the coming Sunday (6th,
January, 2008) to be a special prayer day in all churches.
Our Pastoral Office on Thursday sent out pastoral
letters to all parishes urging parishioners to pray Novena
for peace.
Also, the international community; including the United
Nations Organization (The UN), and African Union (AU), is
also coming in to help
facilitate dialogue between these two main
protagonists, President
Kibaki and Mr. Odinga. Already, the renowned Nobel
Prize winner and arbiter Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South
Africa is in the country for this purpose.
Despite this, the main protagonists; President Kibaki and
Mr. Odinga still remain obstinate, and thus there is rising
need for advocacy for these two to agree to an
unconditional way forward. |
