Edit Kenya Team
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This is a true story of how individuals acted openly, one by one, time after time, place beyond place, to confront violence, avert genocide and make peace. We document below the highlights of our day by day activity. We emboldened each other as a Pyramid of Peace. Ours is an inspiring story with instructive lessons which some day will be told in drama, poetry, art, film, music and song.
Wherever you may be, whatever your Values, Investigations or Endeavors, join us at
Our Day by Day Account
Violence erupted in Kenya on December 30, 2007 after Janet, Asif, Sasha, A report they aren't hearing from our friends in Kenya because of a media blackout. Andrius suggests actions we can take and invites Asif to lead our efforts.
JanetFeldman: I am reading with alarm and sadness about the election violence in Kenya, and wanted to post to ask if our members and friends--all of those especially in Kibera, where there has been looting and killings--and in Nairobi are OK? Please let us know when you can.
Josephat (in Tanzania) and M (in Europe) invite us to chat. Davis and Fred report from Uganda. A reports that Tom in Kisumu was robbed. Andrius directs a coordinated response. Davis will work with refugees coming to Uganda and links us with Muyela in Nakuru, Kenya. Kiyavilo will go to the Tanzanian border. Josephat will lead translation into Kiswahili. Sasha sets up wiki pages. Kennedy is safe but has no transport into Nairobi. DennisKimambo organizes a peace meeting in Nakuru. Janet shares reports and notes banks are closed due to violence. Andrius speaks with Samwel (in RusingaIsland, Kenya) who says that an audit of election results would halt all violence.
AndriusKulikauskas: We're looking for short term ways to help. The situation is serious (transportation unavailable, communications shut down, food and water shortages, lawlessness and ethnic turmoil). The long term prospects are good (the opposition has won many seats in the parliament, which will meet in March, and there is a widespread concern for the country). We're trying to help individuals help others and also avert a civil war or a genocide as occurred in Rwanda. The simplest way to help right now is to make phone calls to Kenyans and send SMS messages. We are making a list and encouraging calls. DennisKimambo: we carried out a meeting today with two ethnic groups that are both very much involved with what is happening and tension has been building up, at Free Area where most of the landlords are Kikuyu's and the Tenants Luo's we used magnet theatre to have a forum with them, and it was a very fired meeting as both side tried to prove that they are right in what is happening at the end of the day we all agreed that the leadership should help with the problem nationally but as locals staying here in Nakuru as neighbors they agreed to refrain from violence and they will hold the same meetings every 3 days just to help one another with the tension and console those who have lost there family in other parts of the country, this was possible with the help of the chief of the area, as we continue to push for peace we are asking you to pray for this country William reports on James in Nairobi. Samwel gets online, reports the banks have opened, the priority must be for politicians to preach peace. Tom Ochuka is preaching peace to the deaf community. Kennedy is in the Kangware slums of Nairobi, needs food, can't go outside, a gang decides to torch their house, but the police drives them away, and all is calm. Kennedy notes a shortage of phone cards. The NafsiAfrikaAcrobats will meet tomorrow. Samwel links Andrius with Amos in Eldoret, who with 1,000 people is staying up all night in the cold, their tribe is targeted. Pamela suggests and Meadowlea works on peace songs. Attorney General calls for a recount.
SamwelKongere: I can access the bank as well as Western Union near here. We can hurry up and buy cereals, blankets, towletries etc for children and other sick peolple who are campimg at churches, police stations, and health centres. In our area police are becoming tired and some of them are killed by locals. If at all the situation is not handled the way the communities affected need, then Kenya is going to be another Kosovo, Rwanda but much worse. The already displaced families will not go back to their homes as the situation in Eldoret is worsenning.
JacktonArija: Thank you all for your concern about Kenya, a lot is happenning here and many and many people have lost their lives.As Sam has said there is no food,no transport and no money and medication.Right now as speak we dont have food and i am just in the house with my kids boiling hot water and putting some remaining sugar on it for the kids.
Kennedy (in Nairobi) and Dennis (in Nakuru) are the first to pick up cash Andrius has sent. Dennis agrees to distribute money by sharing phone credits that might be used or bartered, to those who agree to post their telephones publicly and distribute further. Dennis reports Eric's sister Charity is safe. R investigates online services for purchasing cellphone credits. NafsiAfrikaAcrobats will build for television a human pyramid from the various tribes. David is online for the first time since his cellphone was stolen as he escaped from Kibera on December 30.
KennedyOwino: We have suggested as a group to mobilize many Acrobats from various tribes to form one huge pyramid as a mark advocating for peace. ... thank you for your prayers and co-ordinated efforts. I woke up with anticipation of seeing calm restored in our lovely country. It's like a testimony, though there were fears before of repeated violence, everything is serene and the situation calm.
Dennis accounts for the phone credits he distributed and shares his motto: "Humanity before politics". Asif alerts us to the Mamamikes online service for purchasing cellphone credits. Mental Acrobatics blog highlights Kennedy's NafsiAfrikaAcrobats and Dennis's Repacted. Meadowlea calls Kenyans and shares news. Kiyavilo returns from Kenya to Tanzania and shares news. Uyoga members in Tanzania will create peace songs. AndriusKulikauskas: They are able to purchase phone card credits (there are no shortages for that in Nakuru and Nairobi) and then use their phones to send those credits to others throughout Kenya. This will let everybody make calls and be in touch. But more importantly, the credits can function as an alternative to cash, especially in areas where we haven't managed to deliver cash. Kenyans can use the credits to pay for help from each other, including food and travel.
Samwel and Dennis report of impending food shortages and confirm to Andrius they may be caused by Kalenjin gangs blocking the roads. Andrius sends money to share with benevolent Kalenjins who might engage the youth on the roads. He links with WesleyChirchirChebii of kalenjin.net
JacktonArija: I thank you all making all efforts for me to have food in my house,Ken Owino sent airtime oh Ksh 1500 and Dennis also snet me and airtime of ksh750.I managed to sell and use to buy food in my house and my neighbour who was also lacking food. AndriusKulikauskas: I surmise that their roadblocks may be all that's keeping food and people from getting to where they need to go. ... But we can go straight to the enemy who in his rage inflicts the chaos. We can take up their point of view! One enemy that I see are the 1,500 or so Kalenjin youth in Eldoret who are threatening to kill Kikuyus and also the Lou workers among them such as AmosObwanga. I urge us to find the telephone numbers of any Kalenjins who might possibly engage us and ask for their help to distribute money and phone credits to Kalenjins in need. And this act of friendship can extinguish the gangs in a single day. Andrius instructs Wesley to work openly and send his team's phone numbers, which he does. Kennedy agrees to engage the Kalenjins through his Kikuyu contacts. Amos is finally safe and picked up money in Eldoret. Kennedy accounts for phone credits he distributed.
VOA, LisaSchlein: About 200 trucks loaded with food and other essential items were stranded for days at the Port of Mombasa because of insecurity on the main roads and checkpoints set up by vigilante groups. Now that security is improving, the trucks are moving, but not everyplace. Andrius writes of our "Pyramid of Peace" and makes a long term plan that goes beyond Kenya. Andrius asks for Ushahidi to show positive events and allow us to be editors.
CharlesKilel: After facilitating Achami with phone credit He was able to communicate to 10 Kelenjin fighters in the bush. The only problem he told me is that the fighters do not disclose information about what and why they are fighting yet they are saying that they are not willing to give up the fight until the non-Kelenjins leave Kuresoi. He has also been in talks with the provincial administration to hold community peace meetings with the elders because the elders play a major role of instructing and financing the young fighters, the District Commissioner has promised to speared head the talks thanks to the small money I got from Dennis.
BrianBehlendorf: It seems to me you've got something very special here - a direct way to connect funds to people who can make really productive use of them. You've built a trust relationship with people inside Kenya, people you know will use that money for necessary phone calls, food and shelter, or other critical needs, and distribute that to others to also handle in a noble manner. I based my decision to donate to you on witnessing the conversations you're having, and while not understanding every detail, it looked personal and direct and thus likely to be transparent and trustable.
CollinsOdour: I have just arrived from Kuresoi the battle field, it was a long journey because I traveled with a lot of fear, I traveled to Kuresoi to meet Achami, we spoke for a long time trying to find out a way of reaching out to a person believed to be very influential in Kuresoi among the Kalenjin community in the area. We got a phone number and called and spoke to him for a long time and booked a meeting that could bring peace to the area, the meeting is tomorrow in Molo town and it will be conducted by Achami. The leader refused to give his correct phone numbers unless we promise not to involve the police we promised not too because my mission is to bring peace and stop the war. We managed to buy food staff for tomorrow's meeting. ... After tomorrow's meeting Denis and I will communicate directly with the leader who they refer to as a "war lord" DennisKimambo: I have just received a call from Sam's friend that Sam wants me to tell the whole forum about his health he had an alergic reaction and he is being taken to hospital now. I will try and get my contact to go and see him in Mbita. WesleyChirchirChebii: Today, I negotiated with one church organization which has agreed to give maize to 22 families in a place called Kimumu and on Monday another fifty (50) Kalenjin families will be assisted with several bags of maize in BurntForest. This is the place that has seen the largest concentration of Kikuyus camping outside of the centre. It is alleged that when the Kikuyus were attacked by Kalenjins on 1st January 2008, they decided to revenge by burning and destroying the houses and business premises of Kalenjins in Burnt Forest. Accordingly Kalenjins lost all of their property. Now they are starving and also worrying where they will get unforms and money to pay for their kids transport back to school. Even more worrying is the lack of boarding fees for their kids. AndriusKulikauskas: We are not sending more money to you until we have more reports as you earlier had, how you are distributing the money and the phone numbers of the people and where they are. We can send phone credits for BurntForest as soon as possible if you direct who to send them to. Is it Fred Yego +254 722 422 422 ?
CollinsOdour: My traveling to Kuresoi has bore fruits because am in communication with three main Kalenjin peace makers in the area. Have set up plans to have a peace meeting with the Kalenjins and the other communities at this point we have managed to communicate to few fighters and they have stop attacking other communities apart from some few areas, the peace makers who are also in local peace committee feel that a long team solution can be reached by both sides.
AndriusKulikauskas: Kenya is calm overall for now, but there are fighters in hotspots such as Kuresoi and Burnt Forest who peacemakers are engaging with help from our Pyramid of Peace. ... I spoke with Dennis Kimambo and Kennedy Owino. My thought is that for the next month we will find a steady way to make progress organizing those "independent thinkers" in Kenya who don't insist on either side but care first for "Humanity before Politics". ... We will keep our work humming but I think we can be sure to catch up on our rest and to discover how to live with this situation in the longer term.
JacobOgweno: I wish to inform you that the schools opened yesterday , but again closed due to the hostile situation in kenya.,THe schoolsa will again resume when the situation becomes calm. there will a national demontration in all the towns in kenya fromm tommorrow , already the situation in mbita become very hostile , homa bay and kisumu. it may not be safe to travel to homa-baty to the bank on thurday , the banks may not work or the looters may take the money. i humbly request that is possible I receive some money through phone urgently as you had suggested.
EmmanuelWere: Here in Nandi hills and at Kasiwon, m place at around p.m a gang of about 200 men armed with bow, arrows clubs and a host other crude weapons raided our small town council. ... Door to door search left the residents psychologically tear apart. Most people felt that their properties were being assed only to be later raided and taken away by force which was later to be case. ... Midday all shops closed owners were still forced by the mob to provide for transport and lunch plus fuel to go and raid the next town fifteen Kilometers away. Before they left a discussion ensued and they all agreed that women who are married to none Kalenjins will not have to evicted and are not supposed to be harassed as the case. Currently we've managed to get at least 25 youth to be none partisan to the violence activities currently ongoing. ... May main problem is moving from on place to another due transport irregularities secondly, through the group we've managed to get the town councilors and the police to help us organize an open airconcrt dubbed "Ngao our Shield" this will take place on 27th of January 08 at the Nadi Hills Gardens in Nandi Hills.
DennisKimambo: Things are good in some parts of Kenya while other places its still not safe, the situation is not being helped by the police who are using excessive force to disperse crowds here, yesterday Nakuru was very tense and, following protest that were made not possible by the heavy presence of the police, I talked to Rachael who is planning to organize a peace caravan for rift valley.
EmmanuelWere: When the uprising militias from Nandi hills made their way on Wednesday 16th to Kapsabet 17km away all seemed bad but things turned out for good making a turning point in the mass called from ODM party . in the earlier meeting coordinated by the elite members of Hills Youth group including various university students at the Nandi Hills gardens the following was agreed on... 1. that a thorough search be made house to house to get back looted property back to the owners because some of the youths were now terrorizing people en in broad daylight taking away their property in the name of Mass Action. 2. 2. Any person involved in hooliganism and theft are to be burnt alive as means of curbing this vice. This is known as mob justice and is commonly practiced here in Kenya where a victim is torched with tires till death. ...
BenoitCouture: How can the curbing of vices such that one mentioned here, be achieved non-violently? Genuine inner peace knows very well that such "mob justice" is as much the enemy of peace as the vice being treated in such a way. Let there be punishment where punishment is needed. But let the punishment be applied for the sake of enabling Health-Education-Correction to reach all who may be concerned, case by case. In each case, there is a lot more people involved than only the one who does get burned alive. ... So please, do get that mob justice out of the way and get on with the road of inner peace.
AndriusKulikauskas: I spoke just now with DennisKimambo +254 722 388 275 in Nakuru. Nakuru has been a haven for refugees since the start of the Kenyan post-election turmoil. However, recently the Kalenjin fighters have burned down some houses nearby. The Kalenjin fighters have apparently been organizing themselves. There are also revenge attacks against the Kalenjins.
AndriusKulikauskas: RichardRono agrees with our plan to share airtime with those Kalenjins who let us publicly post their telephone numbers and who reach out to the Kalenjin fighters but also so the fighters might reach out to other tribes. The Kalenjin are afraid of vengeance and they are not receiving aid in the amounts as the rest of Kenya. Richard will rent a vehicle so they might move around easily in the area and communicate with more people.
EmmanuelWere: On Sunday 20th Jan 08 there was a community meeting and we called all the effected and interested parties to the Nandi Hills Gardens. Amongst the persons present were the general mangers from the various tea estates which included Nandi Tea, Eastern Produce and George Williamson tea Kapchorwa, various business men and others. A special group that came is the youths who were terrorizing the local residents, and workers from this tea zones. ... 1. The youths that were involved in the various violence activities to be employed to replace the vacant positions at the tea estates.. ...
DennisKimambo: Andrius as i write this email i is 2 am in the morning and i am home safely after an ordeal that would have seen me dead, but because of the airtime i have been sending to people they did not harm me i will call you tomorrow at around 12 pm to tell you the whole story but with tears filled in my eyes i wan to thank you again and again for all that you are doing to Kenyans. Tonight what i have seen will forever remain with me GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY
JanetFeldman: TomOchuka has long hoped for a learning center of some kind. There is one now we know of, run by a colleague who is a member of the Kenyan Community Abroad, a Kenyan Diaspora nonprofit of which we are both members. Such a center has also been a dream for several other orgs I/we know of in Kisumu, so perhaps we could consider how one center might help several orgs and many individuals and groups.
AndriusKulikauskas: I made many calls to our Pyramid of Peace leaders in Kenya tonight. Now is another day for decisive action. I share my understanding and the plan which we have agreed to pursue. ... Nakuru has been a haven for refugees but now is the focus of the violence in Kenya. My understanding is that the Kalenjin fighters are actually weakening because the situation is improving in much of the area. Meanwhile, they have been organizing themselves and are looking to stir a fight in Nakuru. Nakuru has attracted many Kikuyu refugees and now they have outnumbered the Kalenjin there and so many Kikuyus with the complicity of the Kikuyu police are burning down Kalenjin houses in Nakuru. There is also the sound of gunfire and there's reason to believe that the government has started supplying guns to the Kikuyus, which otherwise have been rare, the fighting so far being mostly with machetes and bows and arrows. The result is that there is an increasing conflict looming in Nakuru between Kalenjin fighters and Kikuyu fighters. I perceive an underlying weakening in the Kalenjin fighters. Now is the time to engage them further and chase them down through our Pyramid of Peace network, including the towns of Nesuit and Mauche from where the Kalenjin fighter are coming to Nakuru. We want to help them retreat to their own "camps".
AndriusKulikauskas: Rachel Kungu +254 721 626 389 has helped us think through the details. She will participate tomorrow in a meeting with former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. I encouraged her to ask him to promote some key ideas of immediate significance: - that Kenyans publicly post their telephone numbers as in our Pyramid of Peace to reach out to each other for dialogue and support amongst different people, for example, through large advertisements in the newspapers...
AndriusKulikauskas: I spoke with DennisKimambo +254 722 388 275 in Nakuru, Kenya. Yesterday he helped many people there move to safer places. The situation today is much calmer. The tribal gangs are no longer killing people but rather having them vacate their homes. Dennis told me how they talked to a gang of 500 that was threatening to burn down RonaldOdhiambo's +254 722 240 088 home as they had the others in the area. But the neighbors explained about all of the donations and help that they had received from Ronald in these days. So instead the gang gave him two days to move out. They will be able to negotiate further. AndriusKulikauskas: We are living through scary times, yet strategically we may have decisive impact. There is good news breaking through the bad news. Most recently, the Kikuyu clique Mungiki supported by the Kikuyu security police have set up roadblocks on the road from Nakuru to Nairobi (especially at Naivasha) and have been killing travelers from other tribes. We now have the chance to sap their hate with love from Kikuyus in Nairobi. This is our priority now. ... Rachel Wambui Kungu +254 721 626 389 has agreed to lead our most vital advance at this time which is to engage with love the Kikuyus at the roadblocks. AndriusKulikauskas: Rono Richards +254 723 732 617 is organizing a road trip through the Kalenjin areas that will yield many contacts for us. I spoke with him today, he is a Kalenjin and so is Wesley Chirchir +254 722 992 107 from Eldoret who will meet him tomorrow (Monday). They will rent a car and then visit Morendoko, Setkobor, the campsite at Mengitz farm where they will spend the night, and then Tuesday onward to the Sundu River camp, Piloa, Umoja Primary, Noinet, Kibtoror and then Wesley goes back to Eldoret. They will collect phone numbers for Wesley to post on the Internet upon his return, and they will organize white arm band volunteer security forces without weapons to assist police (whose protection they lack at this time), and they will find elders who might distribute food. AndriusKulikauskas: LawrenceAchami +254 720 613 379 is at a camp in that area at Baringo B along with several hundred Kikuyus and they also have some police protection. Yesterday Kalenjin fighters in the area killed five people in a neighboring farm not far away. However, Rono reports that a first camp for Kalenjins with police security has been set up at Baringo B so now they have a place to go.
JanetFeldman: I have just discovered that there is something strange which happened with the airtime transactions this time, and that is why you have not received them. ... In the meantime, I have sent Dennis and Jackton some funds via Moneygram, and--depending on how things go with MamaMike's (if I cancel the transactions, for example)--I might send the funds I had used for these airtime transactions to Andrius, or directly to Kenya.
PamelaMcLean: I have been passing on relevant MS emails to BBC ... I tired teh other contacts as well initially, but as I got response from BBC I decided to focus on the two contacts there who had replied to me.
AndriusKulikauskas: Wesley Chirchir Chebii told me about his road trip (yesterday Monday and today Tuesday) through the Kalenjin areas with Rono Richards +254 723 732 617. They managed to travel from Kuresoi to Sundu River and Piloa. Many Kalenjins are displaced in Sundu. Wesley found the area more peaceful than expected ... Wesley called me from Kericho where he is stopping on his way back to Eldoret. He alerts us that Kalenjin youths have set up roadblocks from Eldoret to Iten and from Eldoret to Turbo. These are quite calm but the youth there are alarmed by rumors sent by SMS text messages that the Kikuyu clique Mungiki are on their way to Kuresoi from Navaisha. And yet from the police it is clear that this is just a rumor. My suspicion is that the source of such rumors are wicked Kikuyus and wicked Kalenjins who are likely colluding to destabilize all of Kenya. ... The youths may very well be bored and it may be possible to occupy them with football on the roads. AndriusKulikauskas: Rachel Wambui Kungu's +254 721 626 389 group of six peacemakers leaves by bus from Nairobi at 9:00 am, Wednesday morning. They may rent a car in Navaisha as needed. They have contacts there and will then go to the police, talk to the youth, talk to the local people, and with their help meet key people in the Mungiki. There is a lot of tension on the ground and so this will be a lengthy process involving many small risks, but preferably no big ones. I share a general principle about engaging the violent: "Look at everything from their point of view". In particular:
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AndriusKulikauskas: M encouraged me to organize us better to care for all the people we know such as Ron, or also Kennedy, who today fled his neighborhood in Nairobi. I share three priorities which I called Ron to discuss. He agreed that we must focus what we can on the root problems. I know this is heartbreaking, because our personal losses are heartbreaking, even harrowing, as Janet writes.
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JamesKarongo from Nakuru: I was able to keep in touch with everybody since I had the credit. It came at the right time there was scarcity of credit in the shops but i did not encounter the problem. ... The problem that we have right now is food since it is very expensive and very scarce due to the violence. The food from the remote areas is not reaching the town due to the vilence. ... We hope to do peace messages in the outreaches when the situation calms down.
WesleyChirchir is back in Eldoret and I sent him 300 USD of which 100 USD is for him to keep after his road trip and the rest is to engage the Kalenjin youth which they plan to do today, including the idea to encourage them to play football on the roads near the roadblocks, so the adults can take the initiative there. I spoke with Chesosio +254 722 698 541 in Eldoret who Rachel told me of. He was actually with Wesley and also Wesley will contact Felix.
RonOdhiambo: I did meet with Dennis andhe gave me the $100 which majorly i have used on credit to call and help other families which needed to call in tracing and communicating to their loved ones.I aslo did receive a call from Andrius yerster night and we had a lengthy talk about the root of the probles,dealing with gangs and principles of engagement to this gangs.well i hope all becomes cool andok.today and tommorowi will try to contact thhe group and have a talk with them,tyr and get them food which i think is the main idea which they extort money from people and see if we can play a football game[idea from Andrius].Pray for me.
DennisKimambo: Thanks to you Janet and the HH ron was able to do all this i did send him credit and gave him 100 dolloars this morning, hope that peace will prevail in Kenya.
AndriusKulikauskas: RachelWambuiKungu +254 721 626 389 is back in Nairobi, Kenya after a day that transformed the name Mungikis from a curse to a blessing. Her team met with key leaders of the Mungikis in Naivasha. They have given their names and phone numbers to participate in the Pyramid of Peace and to engage the violent Mungikis who have moved onward to Nairobi. They agreed to remove the road blocks for the next seven days. They will organize a large meeting in two days or so to meet with leaders from the Catholic church and with the local head of the police. Afterwards, they wish to meet with the Kalenjins for dialogue. They are ready for a permanent peace upon three reasonable conditions: 1) that Kalenjins and others stop fighting and free the roads as well, 2) that the opposition leaders tell their people to stop fighting, 3) that the youth be involved in the decisions affecting them.
AndriusKulikauskas: Our priority now is to cement a great victory by Rachel and her team (which I think included KennedyOwino +254 723 568 251 and DavidMutua +254 720 462 559). We can call, we can talk, we can give, we can donate. We can accept the challenge to encourage the Kalenjins and Lous and others to free the roads as well and celebrate the calm. We can reestablish Nakuru as a haven for dialogue. We might also verify the respect for travelers by sending travelers. Rachel told how they made great progress by riding motorbikes, which made it easy for them to speak to the road blockers, as opposed to driving in cars. What a telling illustration of the maxim "Be vulnerable". By allowing for a little hurt, we can know who is truly hurtful.
AndriusKulikauskas: WesleyChirchirChebii +254 722 992 107 returned this morning to Eldoret where he drafted a message for a press conference given by Kalenjin elders who talked effectively on radio stations. Wesley will go tomorrow to the Kalenjin roadblocks at Iten.
AndriusKulikauskas: DennisKimambo +254 722 388 275 and I spoke today about his work in Nakuru. He organized police escort for a large group of residents (I think Lou) to leave for other parts of the country, which at this time gives hope and diminishes tensions.
AndriusKulikauskas: Looking ahead, I think the root cause of the violence is coming to light. We have seen the Kikuyu brutality move, as if it had no roots, first to Nakuru, then to Naivasha, and now to Nairobi. It is as if they and, I think, their fellow killers from other tribes are hunting for the sorest spot where their fight might fuel a national conflagaration. They have caused much grief, yet the outrage is restrained. The fight is winding down rather than flaring up. The violent Mungiki are now upon Nairobi, where they are feared, but they have no real support, and they will prove themselves weak. I suspect a second reason for why they come to Nairobi is that they are going to their protectors, I can imagine in parts of the government (not all but parts of the police are rotten, as was clear in Naivasha), but also in the ruling party (in which I can imagine there are links to the attack on Nakuru) and the opposition party (in which I can imagine there are links to the massacre at Eldoret).
AndriusKulikauskas: Thank you from Kenyans to the entire world. Thank you for urging action, comforting, suggesting, hoping, articulating, encouraging, wondering and holding hands. Thank you, Janet, Pamela, A, Meadowlea, Joy, Asif, R, Sasha, Benoit, Fred, Kiyavilo, Josephat, Prosper, Primson, William, Steve, Samuel, John, Markus, Jeff, Irena, Eluned, Cass, Jerry and all!
JanetFeldman: Issues related to land, the colonial past (favoritism of some tribes over others), poverty, lack of opportunity-education-hope, ethnic clashes, HIV/AIDS, hunger: all of these play a role. So many young people face what appears to be a bleak or uncertain future ... 1) all parties to this conflict (whether political or tribal) are responsible for what has happened, and what will happen 2) the "language" that we use to describe people and situations is also important, so that we don't start to "pigeonhole" (stereotype) people, as this is just what is happening now in Kenya. ... Rachel and team, I want to make sure that what you are doing is spread far and wide, both as a story in its own right, and also linked to our collective work here.
AndriusKulikauskas: Janet if you are around in the next hour or so I would gladly strategize with you regarding the next month or so. We had a good chat today with Rachel, Ken, David present and I was emboldened to say we might together seek $100,000 to distribute this month. ... I'm thinking about my own role - both as a strategy leader and as a fund organizer - and the basis for any such role (Kenyan based or outside based) and the governance mechanism for our pyramid. The current arrangement is unusual but there is something extremely effective about it, too. ... I am delighted by our Kenyan leaders, both those whose great stature has made itself evident, and those who have risen to the occassion, and likewise all around the world who have come together as one family. ... I invite us to consider this as the first steps on the ground of a twenty year journey to remake our world in the spirit that we live today.
Mia Collis: William Kimosop is the Warden for Bogoria and all the surrounding areas and he has spent the last two days trying to get people to safety. He now has 865 people of all ethnic groups from the Solai area hiding in a ravine where he is trying by himself to protect them. Three babies have been born in the last few days and there is no food and water. He needs UN help urgently! He himself is feeling threatened to the point where he has had to remove his government number plates off his car for fear of attack. His telephone number is 0720 317 760. William is reluctant to report it to the police or army because he feels they are now divided in that area and he does not want to report it to someone on the "wrong" side. JanetFeldman: Does anyone know how to reach the Kenya Red Cross directly, or the UN in Nairobi? William's phone is listed, so I wonder if we can call (Ken, David?). I thought I'd try to send him some airtime, and can do the same for whoever reaches and talks with him. AndriusKulikauskas: William said the people are all out of danger now. They managed to walk away in groups from the area. He said it would be helpful if we sent some air time, 5,000 Ksh or 10,000 Ksh (about $100 or $200). I ask our Kenyan leaders to send at least 1,000 Ksh and to contact him. AndriusKulikauskas: I share my first letter as Commander-in-Chief of the Pyramid of Peace ... DennisKimambo +254 722 388 275 called me, I called back and spoke over speakerphone with him, RachelWambuiKungu +254 721 626 389, KennedyOwino +254 723 568 251, DavidMutua +254 720 462 559 and a few others (I don't know exactly who). They shared their plan for immediate priorities in February:
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AndriusKulikauskas: I asked about the Mungiki in Nairobi and they said that they have melted away. I did ask them to reach out into the political structure, both towards the manipulators and towards the peacemakers, and include those who might participate in our Pyramid of Peace. I think it is good for the Pyramid of Peace to meet. I suggest that we invest in Nakuru as our center of operations because it served us all as a haven for peace, it includes a variety of tribes, it is centrally situated in the heart of the troubles, it needs attention, it keeps us clear of opportunists, and it gives us our own base of influence. Also, I think it would be good to distance ourselves from Nairobi politics.
AndriusKulikauskas: I told our leaders that they have achieved wonderful results in one month. I told them that if they did this for twelve months straight, they could lead or organize the national unity government for Kenya. Most likely, the government will get its act together by six months or so, and this won't come to happen. Our successes will make it try harder. I made clear our leaders' potential. I add that our focus is to do what the government can't do. In particular, we will respond with vigor to stop any hint of genocide. AndriusKulikauskas: I explained what I mean by Commander. I have learned that I should command our leaders to take care of themselves, to provide for themselves, to keep a part for themselves, their families, and their own giving, as they judge. This is the nature of our command.
Read more... Hezekaih: I knows Bondo my be calm but i strongly object you taking the trip now, i recomend that you delay it even fo 2 weeks and study the situation. JanetFeldman: Thanks to Hez and Tom for their feedback to you, Theresa, and I think it would be best if you would wait too. ... In the meantime, you can still do fundraising and friendraising for our members in Kisumu--including Tom and Hez-- as money, supplies, and friends who will be aware and supportive of our members and work are invaluable. Read more...
EmmanuelWere: This meeting people aired their grievances and complaints All the business was closed and traders and all people in town ordered to go to NandiHills gardens for the meeting to discuss security. The following was agreed on 1. That the people who have done ills were to be forgiven of the past ills but any current ill was to be dealt with urgently by reporting to the police and through mob justice. ... 2. The businessmen that were buying stolen property will be dealt with if found with the same ... 3. the youth placing the road block wer told not to for they were hampering transportation of tea to Mombassa ad also of pole to hospitals ...
KennedyOwino: Please find the the attached press release, and give in comments asap, before we publish it Tommorow Saturday. PressRelease: Posted to the Nation media. This press release carries a statement from the Naivasha Youths gathered in a meeting facilitated by a number of Kenyan Youth Organizations all united under the umbrella of "PYRAMID OF PEACE" Pyramid Of Peace (P.O.P) was an idea conceptualized after the post election turmoil that erupted in Kenya. It was thought by independent thinkers through their online networking forum called Minciu Sodas laboratory (M.S.L)
http://www.pyramidofpeace.net
RonaldOdhiambo: i was also able to meet with an IDP named CATHRINE MAtindachege displaced from the Creative rossses flower farm because she is Kikuyu but luhya.she saw one of the neighbour,a lady of 3 kids hacked to death because she was luo and she ran to the Naivasha Prisons for protection. with help from red cross we were able to give her safe passage to town where i paid her fare to nairobi to some relative.she arrived safe afew hours ago am now in nakuru where in the next 45 minutes will be meeting with the group for football but i will refferee the game and also i got food from the red cross and some few clothes for them. Dennis thanks for the transportation of the kids and some families. |
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