Kenya’s Election crisis: Situation in Kitui
Today is the ninth day since violence rocked several parts of Kenya, following controversial declaration of Kibaki as the winner of the December 27th elections.
With it, a conservative national figure of 486 deaths has been recorded in public hospitals (excluding records of the dead in private hospitals, and totally unrecorded ones), with thousands more injured, and 300,000 internally and externally displaced.
Now a sense of calmness is slowly coming back.
Affected…
The most affected provinces have been Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley; Nairobi; and Coast. The Central; Eastern and North Eastern Provinces have not been adversely affected by the skirmishes and there these areas have experienced relative calm 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.
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 January 1st, 2008.
Though there is relative tranquility in this (Kitui Diocese) area, gloom is still 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.
Panic…
During the first three days of this political turmoil, panic was all over.
While violence victims were being rendered homeless; seeking shelter in police stations churches, schools and open fields, thousands more had 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, it in fact increased it hundredfold. The same ban is still in force.
Inaccessibility of airtime cards for mobile phones until late on 3rd 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.
In the troubled regions and towns, virtually all industries, food stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and other businesses for basic commodities of consumption closed down for of fear of violence and looting, 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, and this has skyrocketed prices of these basic commodities.
For instance, a 2 kilogram packet of sifted Maize flour that was costing Kshs. 60 before December 27, now goes for between Kshs. 100.00 and 120.00.
Food shortage is expected to increase, since the December rains were totally inadequate, and our crops are drying up.
Public transport, which is more popular in rural areas, has become expensive. Some areas like Western Kenya and rift valley still remain no-go zones, a time when we have so many people from Kitui, who had come home for holiday working, living or studying there. These people can not travel back, and this is threatening livelihood of many families here, since most of the breadwinners are casual workers in these towns. Cases are rampant about public service vehicles being set ablaze by marauding youths in troubled areas, and thus, owners have opted to keep their vehicles off the road.
Also fuel pumps in available stations have dried up, and whenever few gallons of fuel become available, the station owners are selling the fuel selectively and exorbitantly. This has soared transport fares beyond the reach of people here, who depend on available public transport system.
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!
School system has not been spared either. But now, the 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. The rural areas (read Kitui diocese) may become more vulnerable as a result.
Way out…
There is still hope that a way forward is to be found soon for the current stand-off.
The Catholic Church in Kenya through its 24 bishops (Including our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Martin Kivuva Musonde), has joined voices with other faiths, Kenyans and international community urging 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.
This seems to be bearing fruit, since Kibaki has requested for a face-to-face meeting with Raila this coming Friday in the presence of several invited leaders of various faiths, including His eminence John Cardinal Njue. Both Raila and Kibaki have expressed commitment to dialogue, a fact that has improved peace in the country. Both sides have agreed on the choice of the current Chairman of Africa Union, President Kuffuor of Ghana to mediate in an attempt to broker a solution to the current stalemate. President Kuffuor jetted into the country on Monday 7th, January, 2008.
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.
