Written by a very dear friend.

Dear Friends and Family,

On this eve of the year 2007, we in Kenya are in a situation that has caused us to weep for our beloved nation.

On December 27, 2007, the people went to the polls to elect their civic, parliamentary, and presidential leaders. It was a day marked by hope, peace, long line ups, patience and the determination to vote for change.

Why change? Until today, the three presidents who have led Kenya since the colonial masters left in 1963, have been unwilling to break the colonial norm of governance by way of control and oppression. We yearn to be free from this oppression so that we have a nation that is truly free, democratic, and that provides equal opportunity for everyone in the country. Until today, 90% of Kenya's wealth is in the hands of 5% of her people. This wealth was by and large obtained through manipulation, lies, displacing of people, stealing of public resources, and by force. These shameless acts continue up to today, and yet those engaged in them feel no shame at all.

We in Kenya have not yet had a government that has moved beyond the cheap mentality, attitudes and hideous acts that characterized colonial rule.

At the same time, the majority of Kenyans do not condone this nor wish for this. It causes us to suffer, to pay taxes that do not result in substantial public services and public good, to work for little pay, to watch the leaders squander our hard earned cash, and to use substantial time and resources on basics that would otherwise be used to build the nation. Worse still, it causes loss of self-confidence, dignity, and people's very lives.

During this election, as in the previous ones since independence, there have been outstanding Kenyan men and women who have worked towards breaking this yoke of oppression. Some have lost their lives. Some are publicly known, some are heroes known only to a few. Over the past two years, our heroes had formed a formidable team to be elected into forming a government that would devolve power and thereby equalize the economic, social, educational, cultural, legal and political playing field in Kenya. In other words, the same playing field for all of us and no more privileges enjoyed by only a few. Many strategies were proposed to achieve this, including the setting up of a Truth, Reconciliation and Restitution Commission, It would deal once and for all with the gross injustices that have been meted out to people over the past 44 years, and to give the purpetrators and thieves the opportunity to tell the truth, to be forgiven, and to return what they had stolen.

On the third day after election day, which was yesterday, the final presidential results were finally released to the public. The delays in obtaining the results and the discrepancies between the tallies that were publicly read at the polling stations and that were publicly read in Nairobi by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) caused great concern. The Opposition expressed the concerns by presenting the discrepancies through the facts, and the ECK heard them. Yet, when the ECK presented the presidential results last night, these facts had been ignored.

Last night, at about 4 pm, the ECK chairman announced that the incumbent president had won the presidential vote by about 250,000 votes. Instantly, all hell broke loose all over Kenya. People started riots to protest this gross abuse of their voice through the vote by both the government and the ECK. Shops were looted, houses burned, roads blocked and people killed in the capital city and at least ten towns and cities across Kenya. Curiously, the newly "elected" president was sworn in at State House within minutes of the ECK announcement. A few hours later, the Minister of Internal Security, suspended all live broadcasting. The Opposition rejected the results as illegal and stated that they would form a parallel government the following day, and present the people's president. The European Union has expressed doubt in the credibility of the election results.

As at last night, the leader of the Opposition, and his 5-member leadership team, are all under house arrest. One of our cities is under curfew.

I am certain of this: God Himself is mourning. And if God is the same God as at the time of the prophet Isaiah, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He hates the injustice, He hates the lies, He hates the religious activities that are empty and hollow and that only result in fighting and exploitation (Isaiah 58). He will punish those engaged in taking advantage of the common people, and more so the vulnerable, in His own time and in His own way.

"Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" The mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 58:6, 14b).

We are ready to continue to work and pray, pray and work, ora et labora, to see the dawn of a new day appear in Kenya. Justice will break forth, somehow and someday.



Greetings. Hereby an article by a Kenyan business acquaintance written on January 1, 2008.
The Kenyan Liver Has Been Protected!
One of the ruling elites in Kenya once referred to political leadership to the action of juggling with a fresh liver. Whereas Kenyan voters were busy casting their vote, a few elites were busy juggling with the liver in their board rooms; delaying result-tallying and making otherwise efficient election officials to disappear for three days. The resultant effect of liver juggling as opposed to democratic results that each one of us was waiting for is now in the open for the World to behold. Kenya’s African and global position has slipped, we have backtracked to 1988!

I was in a Kakamega restaurant following the election drama on Kenya Television Network (KTN); when within minutes of what appeared to be a video taped announcement of a presidential win was followed by a hurried swearing-in ceremony. It looked very much similar to documentaries on military coups in Africa, only this was more of a liver coup over democracy. Within minutes of our restored president signing himself to office, somebody rushed into the restaurant and warned all those with cars to be careful on how they will drive home. This being my rural town I ignored this warning but chose to drive away immediately. I came face to face with a new Kenya I had only read about!

I drove for less than 2 meters; the first bunch of protesting voters let me through after scrutinizing my identification documents-the second road block within a meter, send warning missiles towards my car and indicated they had no patience to check my identification. A Good Samaritan pointed at a dusty road as the only escape hutch; with adrenaline rushing, wondering which Kenya I was in, I stepped on gas and off I was on a bumpy road! It was now dark, I found another bonfire deep into the sinuses of remoteness, but the group let me through without much of a fuss.

After making several wrong turns, I finally landed on a familiar Sigalagala Butere road. I started answering calls, happy that I was finally home. What? On reaching the Bukura Institute of Agriculture gates, I saw a huge fire towards the direction I was driving. A policeman in civilian waved me down and advised that I should not proceed. This is my village; this is where I grew up, who will stop me? I defied him again; stupid me. Warning missiles flew from the direction of the bonfire; I turned and took refuge in the agricultural college. I drove home the following morning; you can guess what went through my proud African mind.

In a nutshell, the flawed Kenyan electoral process that ignored the logic of why results were always announced at the polling centers demonstrated that we are yet to internalize democracy in our system. Democracy is simply a tool for liver jugglers to determine when, and who ought to be in power. Liver juggling has set in motion forces that will reverse the few gains Kenyans had attained. Destruction of people’s property, total disregard of rule of law and abuse of the same, tribal witch hunting and class struggle are now in motion.

I am now held hostage in my village, I am unable to drive back to Nairobi because voters from different parts of Kenya have blockaded highways in protest of liver juggling democracy. It is unbelievable to see basic commodities disappear from store shelves because delivery trucks cannot move. Pump stations are dry; the famous cell phone industry is slowly grinding to a halt because no one is able to deliver the credit calling cards. Every evening I see lit up horizons. When I tune on the radio, I simply hear appeals for prayer and wonder loudly whether Kenyans and Africans should replace democracy with prayer!


By James Shikwati
Mr. Shikwati is the Director of Inter Region Economic Network


Greetings all. Today I was contemplating why it is that the international media and the majority of church leaders seem to have simplified the very complex issues we are facing here in Kenya. Later in the day I received an email from Joe which I am forwarding to you. It begins to touch on a few of the issues. Joe is one of the teachers who is enrolled in our "Redeeming Education" classes through our "Alliance For Christian Educators" (ACET) program. He lives near Mbita, in southwest Kenya, on Lake Victoria.

On a personal level, we are well and safe. This evening I had my brother and his family, including his parents in law, over for supper. We had wine, candles, music, dessert. "Why are we having a party?" someone asked. Someone else retorted, " We are having a riot party". While deeply aware of the gravity of the situation, it helps to laugh! Someday this too will be over.

Take care,
4 January 2008

___________________________________________
Begin forwarded message:
It feels like an addiction. Every day, watching the news on television, listening to the radio and checking on-line for some sign of an end to the stalemate. I am always thinking the end is near…After the rally, we will know more or there will be a resolution. The President is holding a press conference; maybe something will happen then. Certain foreign diplomats are coming to mediate so that will change things. The chairmen of the Electoral Commission is admitting he doesn't know who won the election and the attorney general has come out to say there should be an independent inquiry into the vote counting and vote tallying. Always thinking that one side will back down or that an event will occur to bring an end to the violence and settle the dispute between the two presidential candidates. Nothing has helped. We are praying for a miracle from God.
Both President Kibaki and Opposition Leader Raila Odinga are unwavering and stubborn. Kibaki claims that the election was fair and that he is the President and he will not step down. If any one disputes that, then he should take his evidence to court. The opposition claims that the election was rigged and that Raila is the winner. They are saying that they will continue to protest until the President steps down. I personally do not see either side giving up an inch. Many outside observers are saying that they need to come up with a power sharing structure, but in my opinion, I don't see how that can work. Raila helped to get Kibaki elected five years ago and was a minister in his cabinet for two years, but they had many disputes and Raila was eventually sacked from his cabinet post. The divisions and hatred is deep, going back over 40 years ago. Also, in Kenya there really isn't a way to share power because the President has all the power and everyone else is under him.
The opposition attempted to hold a million man rally on Thursday, but the police were out in force to impose the ban on public rallies. They doused people with water bombs and tear gas to disperse any crowds gathering on the roads in Naiorbi. There were on-going battles throughout the day with protestors and the police across the country. Another church was set on fire Thursday. Kenya is very fortunate that the common man does not own firearms; otherwise these protests would be unimaginable. After reaching the destination for the rally, the opposition leaders discussed with the police and peacefully agreed to turn around. They have vowed to continue trying every day until they are allowed to hold a peaceful rally.
Some media reports are trying to make it look like it is only Raila's Luo Tribe vs. Kibai's Kikuyu Tribe. While it is true that those two tribes are against each other, it is oversimplifying the problem. There are over 40 tribes in Kenya and most of them have thrown their support behind one of the two candidates. The violence and killing is not limited to only two tribes. It has affected everyone and there are many passionate people from various tribes on both sides of the equation. Also, it is wrong for people to say that the violence and problems are limited to only one area. It is widespread from the coast of Mombasa, through the streets of Nairobi, into Kisumu and Eldoret in western Kenya and in many smaller towns throughout the country. That is why it is too dangerous for anyone to travel the roads between towns.
In Mbita yesterday, there were over a thousand people protesting. Some had walked for over 30 kilometers to join the protests. The mob was walking up and down the roads carrying tree branches to symbolize peace while singing and chanting from the early morning hours until evening time when they were dispersed by gun shots from the police. Similar protests were carried out country wide.
The children and staff of CGA are all safe as far as we know. The government has postponed the opening of schools for another week. Our leadership team will meet today to discuss our course of action. Please pray for wisdom.
It is not a simple problem. There is no easy solution. It seems like it could be a long time before things return to normal in Kenya. We are not far from a civil war. We need God to intervene at this time
JOe Peterson

"If Africa dies, so will we. We all breathe the same air. We all care for our children. We are simply a link in a chain. We all share the responsibility to protect and to create a better world." - Kuki Gallmann



Kenya Elections V - Calm

"Mama, will our house also be burnt down?" "Mama, I feel bad for the people whose houses were burnt."

My five and eight year old daughters look at me earnestly as we eat our lunch. We have been taking all our meals together for many days, being house bound. "No, our house won't be burnt down." "Why not our house? How do you know our house won't be burnt down?" The question is piercing, and one of justice, and I don't know how to answer them.

It is true: why should so many people have their homes burnt down and why should ours be spared? Several of my own friends and acquaintances have lost their homes through fire, and several others have had to move their families and belongings to a relative's home for fear of the same. All these people are gainfully employed professionals, people with Master's degrees, some working on PhDs. Those who watch the kind of events we have in Kenya unfolding on their TV screens often assume that it is only the economically and / or educationally less endowed people who suffer such losses. Not so.

At the same time, I know it is unlikely that our home will be burnt down. We live in a safe neighbourhood in a safe suburb of Nairobi. Our suburb is guarded by security personnel and our home is guarded by a security firm and a watchman. We live four km away from the closest chaos and rioting. We live on a dead-end street that is a through-fare to nowhere.

In addition, Nairobi is calm today. Eldoret is calm today. Kisumu is calm today. Several businesses opened today in all of these cities. Life seemed to have regained some sense of normalcy today. We expect the same calmness tomorrow and Monday. We might go to church tomorrow and I might even make it to the office on Monday. But on Tuesday, there will be another attempt by the Opposition to stage a rally in "Freedom Park" in the city. And so the uncertainty of life and increased tension will return that day. And the children will not be able to start school on that day, the 8th. The opening of their school has been postponed to 15 January. Most schools, public and private, have postponed their opening date by a week.

It takes courage for the Opposition to attempt yet another rally. As much as it is inconvenient for all of us, and dangerous for some, it is necessary. It is necessary because as much as the world's attention is drawn to Kenya, and offers to help resolve the crisis are coming from church leaders and international leaders alike, no one is publicly speaking the truth. No one, except the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

The truth is that the election was stolen. Everyone knows it. Evidence is plentiful. No one from the local and international community has been able to declare the recently concluded polls in Kenya as free and fair, except, ironically, the "President" himself. This is the bone of contention. This is the wrong that needs to be corrected. The truth about what happened behind the scenes during the tallying process is what we want to know. Whether one or the other presidential aspirant won the election is not the issue; it is knowing that our new president, whoever he is, won the election fairly through the ballot. Neither the international media nor church leaders address this gross injustice.

The church leaders are calling for peace and reconciliation. How can there be reconciliation when the truth has not been admitted and forgiven? How can there be genuine peace when the people's need for the truth has not been addressed? Don't be fooled by the calmness in the country today and tomorrow; we have calm, but we don't have peace.

The international media is drawing simplistic conclusions that the unrest in Kenya is due to tribalism. How can a crisis brought about by the disregard and theft of the people's last right - their vote - be simply due to tribalism? Why is it not understood that the ruling elite, from the colonial masters to the ruling masters of today, have been stealing from the Kenyan common people - no matter what ethnic group one comes from - all these years? The peace in Kenya to date has been maintained because the Kenyan populace are indeed a peaceful, hopeful, and very tolerant people. Our last hope to change the incessant raping of the country by the ruling elite was through the vote. Five years ago, voters voted for change, only to have their high hopes dashed by broken promises by the then-newly elected President. Another opportunity in 2007 to vote for real change: patiently we cued for hours to cast the votes - votes for change. Only to have that hope destroyed again, because the ruling elite not only steals the country's resources, it also steals the people's right to vote. This is unjust, and now we are fighting for justice. Enough is enough. Isn't this understandable?

During the hastened swearing in of the illegitimate and illegal Dictator we now have on our hands, the Kenyan national anthem was not sung as is normally done. It goes as follows:

Oh God of all Creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders.

Such powerful words. But such disregard for its words: justice surely is not our shield and defender now. Perhaps it was a good thing it was not sung during the swearing in ceremony. It would have made a mockery out of this anthem.

And yet, truth and justice must roll like a river in Kenya. We should not and can not live with anything less. The way forward, if it had been done within 48 hours of the election results announcement, would have been to retally the vote. But the government thwarted that. The power sharing arrangement that the "president" is now suggesting would be tantamount to ignoring the fact the election was stolen and to join the thieves! The Opposition would rather function as an Opposition so that it can uphold justice for the people.

The underlying and often unspoken truth is: the ruling elite has so much stolen wealth to protect and keep hidden from public scrutiny. And it seems they will do anything to do just that, including throwing the country into chaos and snuffing out lives. It has already cost about 1000 lives and about 500,000 people displaced from their homes. How can such hard hearts of stone be softened? Only when the chaos hits them close to home might hearts begin to soften. Does that remind you of Pharaoh of Egypt? There is, after all, nothing new under the sun.

Perhaps now the way forward is an interim government which prepares for a re-run of the presidential vote within the next three months. This voting process would be overseen by a completely independent body. In addition, increased international pressure by revoking visas to countries either the ruling "president" and the Opposition leader and their families want to travel to, until this crisis is resolved, would bring the effects of this crisis closer to them. This is what the Kenyan Human Rights Commission is suggesting, and I believe rightly so.


Kenya Election VI - Vipers

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The Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, describes vipers as follows:
Vipers are a family of venomous snakes. These snakes are found all over the world. All have relatively long hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Vipers use this mechanism both to immobilize their prey and in self-defense.
Experiments have shown that these snakes are capable of making decisions on how much venom to inject depending on the circumstances. In all cases, the most important determinant of venom expenditure is generally the size of the snake, with larger specimens being capable of delivering much more venom. Also, the species is important, since some are likely to inject more than others, how much venom is available, the accuracy of the strike, and the number of bites already delivered in a short space of time. In predatory bites, factors that influence the amount of venom injected include the size of the prey, the species of prey, and whether the prey item is held or released.
A viper's bite is often a very painful experience and should always be taken seriously, even though it is not necessarily fatal. Even with prompt and proper treatment, a bite can still result in a permanent scar, and in the worst cases the affected limb may even have to be amputated. A victim's fate is impossible to predict as this depends on many factors, including (but not limited to) the species and size of the snake involved, how much venom was injected (if any), and the size and condition of the patient before being bitten.
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A day before the much anticipated mediation talks with John Kufuor, well-respected President of Ghana and Chairman of the African Union, our sworn-in president went ahead and named half of his Cabinet. It was a statement of mockery and disdain for the mediation talks that are taking place today. Many of us had placed a lot of hope in these talks - and we still are hopeful.

One of the persons appointed into the Cabinet is Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka. He has been appointed as the vice-president of Kenya. Musyoka was one of the presidential aspirants who went around the country shouting "Wiper!" During the campaigns I asked several people what exactly Musyoka was trying to tell us when he yelled "Wiper!". Though it is still far from clear to me, it had something to do with cleaning up the current political status quo, and cleaning up corruption, by being the people's "servant".

With Musyoka having pressured the Electoral Commission of Kenya to announce the presidential results and now joining Kibaki in the very government he had promised to "miraculously" uproot, Musyoka has shown his true colours. Instead of "Wiper!" he should have shouted "Viper!", and instead of saying "Servant" he should have said "Serpent". That would have been more honest. From his position as VP, he will no longer rattle the snakes he has joined.

An ancient writer by the name of Isaiah spoke thus about the leadership of his day:

They hatch eggs of vipers and spin a spider's web,
Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.
Their cobwebs are useless for clothing;
they cannot cover themselves with what they make.
Their deeds are evil deeds,
and acts of violence are in their hands.

Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood.
Their thoughts are evil thoughts;
ruin and destruction mark their ways.
They way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;
no one who walks in them will know peace.

So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like men without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.
We all growl like bears;
we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none;
for deliverance, but it is far away.

Justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.
Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

(Isaiah, 740 BC)

Vipers are crafty and dangerous. Their bite can penetrate their prey deeply, But their bite need not be fatal. Negotiations can still save the day. Wisdom must call aloud in the street, raising her voice in the public squares.

On my way to lunch today, I saw two white doves flying and darting playfully together over the roof tops of the buildings in the Industrial Area. I am not a prophetess, but I prefer signs of peace over signs of civil war.


Kenya Elections VII – Counting the Cost


The Kenya Elections are behind us – in fact, two and a half weeks behind us. But the turmoil left in its wake is far from over. International news coverage on the post-election irregularities and chaos in Kenya is becoming less frequent. But the temperature among the people in Kenya is still dangerously high and local and international pressure for resolution to the political impasse intense. The current situation is like an ugly boil about to burst – contained but full of pain – and once it bursts, it will be messy.

Is it worth it? Is it worth the lives of so many innocent people? Is it worth women getting raped, men sodomized and forcibly circumcised, property looted, an economy on the brink of collapse? Is it worth the postponement of schools opening and houses burning down? Is it worth people dying and being eaten by dogs because the insecurity is so great that no one can bury their dead? Is this the price to pay for justice? Will this price even accomplish justice?

At the end of it all, if Kenya goes up in smoke, it is the middle class that will be left holding the bag. The poor have nothing to loose – they will give it their all. The elite will take off – they won’t stick around to watch us kill each other. But the middle class – those of us who have imported cars, opened and expanded businesses, invested in houses, operate local bank accounts – we have a huge stake, and we shall be the ones that will loose the most.

And so any middle class Kenyan and investor, who is not in a position to be on the streets demonstrating, and who is not in a position to take the next available airplane out of the country, must ask themselves: “Is it worth sacrificing MY house, MY business, MY children – for the cause of justice? Once all these have gone up in smoke, then what?” Because don’t be fooled: sooner or later this violence will take a life of its own and anyone seen to have resources will be a target.

There are no easy answers to these difficult questions. Any one who is genuinely trying to seek for a solution to the current political impasse wrestles with these questions, and wrestles with answers to these questions – questions which no one should have to ask or face in their lifetime.

But I have had to ask myself: “How many people in the public political arena in Kenya today, are genuinely struggling with this?” With both sides accusing the other side of lying about issues ranging from tallying votes to Ugandan soldiers sighted in the country, from resolutions in the meeting with Kufuor to bandits dressed in police uniforms, how do we know who is speaking the truth? I wonder if anyone speaks the truth. And if there is no truth, we can’t achieve justice.

One person I have certainly lost any respect for, for being untruthful, is the newly appointed vice president of Kenya, Mr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. As a self-proclaimed Bible believer and peace-maker, his recent actions have made a mockery of both. During the presidential race, he presented himself as the people’s servant, the good boy who loves truth and justice, the one who will miraculously make it to the presidency.

It seems Mr. Kalonzo was so anxious to know whether his miracle had occurred or not, that he pressured the ECK Chairman to release the presidential tally results, even when ECK was not ready to do so. And when he was offered the post of vice-president, he quickly accepted it, apparently in a bid to at least realize part of the miracle.

Kalonzo knows there is much controversy among Kenyans about him accepting the vice-presidency. Although he knows there are people questioning his intentions in this move, he still maintains that he will be the neutral peacemaker in the current situation. You and I know that this is impossible. I am sure that soon, just like Kibaki, he will tell us to “forget the past and move ahead in a spirit of reconciliation and reconstruction”.

The fact that Kalonzo accepted the vice-presidency – a day before mediation talks were to begin - was the start of the political hole that Kalonzo is now digging for himself. The position has no power and no influence. It is a yeah-sayer and face-saver function to the president. Kalonzo has sacrificed his voice for justice and peace on the altar of ambition for power – ironically for the powerless position of vice-presidency. He has shifted from being the people’s servant to being the president’s servant. He has been effectively silenced.

In the move to accept the vice-presidency, Kalonzo reportedly forgot to consult his party members. It seems that the disease of lack of consultation that overtook Kibaki in 2003 has infected Kalonzo as well. His lone ranger tactics do not auger well – and will cause him to dig his own hole faster and deeper.

If Kalonzo was truly concerned about the Kenyan nation and her people, he would have waited to accept any official role in the government until the mediation talks were over. Only in a neutral position would he have been able to serve as a peace-maker. Only then would he have been able to hold out for the truth and for justice.

As for Kalonzo, he has “Wiped” everything that he stood for during his campaigns. At least we know his true colours now. For him, it was solely about power. He was willing to pay nothing for justice. For him it was not worth it. And so, he has contributed greatly to the injustices we are seeing in Kenya today.

What about you - what price are you willing to pay for justice? Is it worth it?