Dear Bishop,
Receive greetings in the name of our soon coming King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We trust that the Lord has preserved you and that his favor is upon you that you may continue to serve His purpose even to the end for His glory.
We are extremely humbled and thankful to the Lord who has hidden us in His wings despite all the chaos and madness around us.
I've compiled this brief report of the situation on the ground:
Receive greetings in the name of our soon coming King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We trust that the Lord has preserved you and that his favor is upon you that you may continue to serve His purpose even to the end for His glory.
We are extremely humbled and thankful to the Lord who has hidden us in His wings despite all the chaos and madness around us.
I've compiled this brief report of the situation on the ground:
Immediately (30/12/2007) the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya forcefully announced the flawed elections results,
- People broke out in protest by burning burning and looting property belonging to Kikuyus and evicting them from their homes.
- Roads were barricaded immediately, paralyzing transport and movement of people.
- Petrol stations were vandalized and fuel freely pumped out freely to the public resulting in an acute shortage and severe price hike from Kshs. 84 to 250 per litre.
I tried as the Lord enabled me to assist our Kikuyu
brethren out of their houses, hiding them in secret places and then later
to the Migori Police Station.
Due to the ruthless shooting by the police using live
bullets and the cruelty of the people within the town (who did not want to
see anyone associated with the Kikuyus), it was very difficult to reach
out to our brethren with any assistance.
On the second day, people started breaking into the houses
of all the Kikuyus in town and looting everything. With all the above
conditions and like of time we only managed to rescue their lives. Most of
the Kikuyu brethren lost everything in their homes and businesses.
On the third day, even the Police Station became a risky
place for them to be in due to the aggression of the people who were
threatening to storm the place. As a result we managed to move the
brethren to the border town - Isebania between Kenya and Tanzania where
there are no houses nor food.
Yesterday 8/1/2008 (January 8th) when the president
announced part of his new cabinet, he appointed Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka (who
came out third in the presidential elections with about 9% of the votes)
as his Vice president. He is from the Akamba tribe and now this has also
triggered a fresh aggression towards the Kambas pitting the under the same
fate as the Kikuyus. This has resulted in nearly 100 members of our
congregations being displaced and lacking of such basic needs as food,
clothing and shelter.
ALL ARE AFFECTED
It is important to note that due to the stalling of all
human activities like transport and business, there are no commodities in
the market and whatever is there is now very expensive. Tension is very
high with the heavy presence of the police who are responsible for very
many deaths hence many prefer to stay indoors.
Now everyone is suffering the consequences irrespective of
their tribe. Many of our members are people who have to work for their
daily bread, a thing they cannot do now due to the situation.
Whereas the Kikuyu brethren are camping in police stations
in Nyanza, western, Rift Valley and Coast provinces, the Luos, Luhyas,
Kisiis, Kalenjins and Coastal brethren are are also camping in Central and
Eastern provinces without any food, clothing and shelter.
You can realize therefore that all our members are affected
in all the towns and major cities in Kenya. I can authoritatively say that
over 1,000 brethren of our church are starving and without the basic
needs, and even more unfortunately in the absence of a sure security
because to some extent some police are biased.
In Nairobi, some brethren are camping in stadiums, show
grounds and churches under the same circumstances across the board. Some
Luo brethren have been forcefully evicted from their rental houses by
their Kikuyu landlords.
It is important to note that our ministers have also been
affected and are living in very bad conditions with their children in
Isebania.
Our church building has also suffered from vandals who have torn the iron sheets from one side.
Our church building has also suffered from vandals who have torn the iron sheets from one side.
OVERALL STATISTICS
Due to the government ban on all media houses from
broadcasting live coverage of events and its control of the communication
system, we have frequent network loss and getting airtime for our phones
is almost impossible so communication has become very difficult.
The government has released the official death toll at
nearly 600 and over 500,000 people displaced and homeless. Most of the
dead have been killed by trigger-happy police.
RETURN OF CALM
When the aggrieved presidential candidate Hon. Raila Odinga
suspended the peaceful countrywide rallies to give chance to international
mediation by the African Union Chairman, some calm has returned and few
shops are opening for few hours and banks are also operating but for few
hours and under tight security.
We are depending so much on your prayers trusting that our God will make a way for this Nation even where there seem to be no way for us and the peace of God shall prevail.
NB: I've attached some photos we took of victims of police shooting and violence and one of the many looted shops.
HIS
Rev. Joshua Kangie
We are depending so much on your prayers trusting that our God will make a way for this Nation even where there seem to be no way for us and the peace of God shall prevail.
NB: I've attached some photos we took of victims of police shooting and violence and one of the many looted shops.
HIS
Rev. Joshua Kangie