I returned the UK yesterday morning, amidst a torrent of conflicting feelings about leaving my friends in Naivasha. Now that I once again have access to the internet, having been safely secured in the Sunshine complex for the past few days, I can begin to post some of my reflections noted during the weekend. The following post was written on Sunday 27th January, as I began to find out what had been happening in Naivasha town centre, when the violence began."I sit down to write this blog and I feel somewhat separated from the real world, or at least the country where I’m living at the moment. I’m not completely aware of what’s been going on the last few days as news isn’t too easy to come by, but stories have been relayed to me via word of mouth.
By all accounts it has been a heartbreaking day for many Kenyans, especially those living in Naivasha. It is reported that 30 to 40 people have been killed in the town centre, just 5 minutes from where I am staying. We heard this morning was that a demonstration was taking place in Naivasha, but throughout the night members of the Kikuyu tribe had set up a road block had been set up on the East African road where it passes Naivasha. Those living in Naivasha are predominantly from the Kikuyu tribe but the problems have arisen since Kikuyu’s from other areas have travelled into the town seeking revenge and using violence to force all other tribes to leave this area.
All known non-Kikuyu’s in the area are being targeted and forced to leave their homes through beatings and further threats. Just one minute away from where I am staying a family from the Luo tribe have a tiny house. The father was beaten last night and told to leave by this evening and the gang plan to come back and burn his house later today; if the family remain they will be killed.
This is only the news I’ve gathered from those living beside me and I am unable to find out what is happening further afield. I find it impossible to relate to what causes these people to turn to these evil acts of murder and violence in order to seek their warped form of justice.
I suppose being non-Kenyan means I will never really grasp the significance of tribal heritage and how it is still so crucial to modern-day life. It seems really unnatural for those of us not from a tribal culture, since people here all claim to be Kenyans yet continue to destroy one another and their economy. The present troubles are certainly threatening the future and stability of the country, and therefore the daily life of every Kenya, particularly those living in the most poverty. We only need to look at Zimbabwe today and Rwanda a decade ago to know that as this situation escalates, all people will suffer; a human catastrophe could be just around the corner.
The question I ask myself is what can I do? What difference can I make? Currently I feel completely helpless and unable to bring any hope to the people. I can only cry out to God and ask for his justice to fall in this place, I pray for his mercy upon the people who have such distorted views in resolving the situation and ask the Lord for his peace to come to Kenya…"
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