GRAVE ERRORS

BOOK/VIDEO LAUNCH:
On Thursday, 3rd December, 2009, at the Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, World Relief Kenya will be launching 2 manuals and a video, namely:
1. Seek Peace: Enhancing Peace Building in Church and Community.
2. He Owns, I Manage: A Stewardship Manual
3. Grave Errors: Stories from the Post Elections Violence

More about......
Seek Peace
Catherine Morris
“A great deal of human suffering is linked to violent conflicts, political instability, or unjust policies and practices. Short-term humanitarian relief and crisis intervention, while important, are not enough in conflicted or post-conflict societies. There is increasing awareness of the need for post-conflict reconciliation, development of capacity for conflict resolution, and the building of sustainable peace.”
Seek Peace is a joint publication of World Relief and the Hope for Kenya Forum that currently brings together eight Christian agencies (World Relief, World Vision, Africa Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries-ALARM, Change Agents for Peace International -CAPI, Campus Crusade for Christ-Life Ministry, FECCLAHA, ICM and Mennonite Central Committee-MCC).

When the Church in Kenya was deeply wounded following the post-election crisis in the country that saw many people lose their lives, churches burnt and property destroyed, World Relief Kenya and other Christian agencies came together and formed Hope for Kenya Forum as a stop-gap measure that would serve as a channel through which these agencies would walk with the Church and support her in facilitating healing and reconciliation in the country.

After hosting many debriefing meetings across the country with many church and community leaders, requests came from church leaders challenging the Forum to provide a tool that can be used to teach Peace at the local Church and Community levels. Seek Peace is that tool.




2. He Owns, I Manage,

“Transparency and accountability” have become catchwords in our society today though few actually take them seriously or put them into practice. Yet these are at the core of God’s expectation of every leader charged with any responsibility. Here is study that provides an excellent guide to practical stewardship in every sphere of life. I recommend it to every leader serious about stewardship.”
Bishop David Oginde

This is a publication commissioned and written by representatives of some 22 churches in Nairobi, facilitated by World Relief Kenya. The publication is meant to be a tool for study by both individuals and small groups, especially, but not exclusively, in the local church context. We manage so much in terms of personal, natural and public resources but often with a hazy view regarding the true owner. Whatever view we hold regarding the ownership of the resources shapes our attitude to the management of the same.


The 22 churches involved are:

NPC Central, NPC Woodley, NPC BuruBuru, AIC Milimani, AIC Ngong Road, All Saints Anglican Cathedral, St Mark’s Anglican Church Westlands, AGC Good Shepherd, PCEA Nairobi West, PCEA Loresho, Nairobi Chapel, Mavuno Chapel, Mamlaka Hill Chapel, Nairobi Baptist Chuch, Parklands Baptist Church, Karen Community Church, Friends’ Church Ngong Road, Karura Community Chapel, Lavington United Church, Deliverance Church, Langata, Green Pastures Tabernacle, and the Evangelical Free Church Fullerton.

3. Grave Errors: "My husband was a tailor,...he left the house and headed to the city to buy materials for tailoring. He and his friends were riding on a pick up when people appeared from the bush and hacked them to death...he's body was burnt beyond recognition and only half of it was found and buried in the forest. We exhumed his body when the violence cooled down and we buried him here...."

This is a documentary on post election violence produced by World Relief and sponsored by Cornerstone church in USA. The documentary is on testimonies from victims of the Kenya’s post election violence with perspectives from experts in the field of peace. The video aims at sensitizing communities on the dangers of negative ethnicity and to act as a preventive tool for future conflicts.

MAY THE LORD HEAL KENYA!!

GRA

WR staff account on the looming draught in Kenya

1.1/1.2: Ole Ntimorua and a friend look at the carcasses of the cattle that have died due to drought.
The looming draught in Kenya is becoming serious by the day. The weather patterns have drastically changed as is known world over and Kenya is not spared. The rivers and lakes are drying, cattle are dying and people are starving. 'The cattle can no longer make it to the market alive. We are therefore forced to sell them at a throw away price of $14 yet we bought them at $140 dollars." says Onesmus Musau World Relief Kenya staff who has just come back to the office from visiting his home. 

A recent trip to one of the sites World Relief Kenya operates, Loitokitok, only reinforced the gravity of the situation on the ground. Duncan Sakimpa Mobilizing Youth For Life, field coordinator had this to say: "My recent visit to Loitokitok for a MYFL youth refresher training left me shocked at the current famine situation in the district.The area is inhabited by mostly the Maasai people who are pastoralists and a few who live along the streams that flow from Mt. Kilimanjaro. The rains have failed for two consecutive seasons leaving the land completely bare without pasture or browse for their treasured livestock. “Our lives are in grave danger” is all what one Ole Ntimorua said while describing the situation as I took the pictures of carcasses around the cultural boma. The few remaining livestock have moved to the neighboring Tsavo National park, a situation that has brought human and wildlife conflicts in the park leaving the shepherds and game rangers engaging in running battles in the park, others have migrated towards Arusha and beyond in the neighboring Tanzania. Currently, the government or any other agency is not giving any relief aid to the local community, if the local community don’t get any assistance in the coming weeks, the situation may turn for the worse. Though food aid may look like the ideal solution to fix the situation temporarily, but long term measures may be the solution that will involve sensitizing the people on micro finance and commercializing the livestock and reduce them in numbers to avoid overgrazing. If any of us is in a position to mobilize for any kind of the much needed aid to our brothers and sisters in Loitokitok, it will be highly appreciated. Thanks and God bless you all." Duncan Sakimpa.  

The media, local authority and individuals have tried to assist by providing food but this can only go so far. The food rations distributed may perhaps last one month or a day. Then what next? Long term solutions is the only way to go to avoid future loss of livelihoods.  

Pray for Kenya! World Relief Kenya will be distributing food in the coming week.

Orphans Rescued Once More!

"Thank you for saving our lives once again,”. These were the words of pastor Amos Ndunda of Kiuwanzukini church in Machakos.  The church had just received a donation of 27 bags of 90kg beans, 60 bags of 90 kg of maize, 100kg beans seeds and 700kg maize seeds donated by the World Relief Disaster Response team. 450 Orphans and Vulnerable Children received the food , and 150 care givers. More than 4421 caregivers received seeds for planting. 

The World Relief team stepped in to rescue the orphans and vulnerable children after a server draught hit Kenya. This is the second time World Relief has supported this community in Machakos. The seeds that were distributed in the 2007 draught did very well and the community was able to donate 20 bags of maize to assist a neighboring community in western Kenya, Mt. Elgon.   Unfortunately this time round the rains failed and they are back to looking for food.

 

Grace Dhamba is one of the beneficiaries of the food rations and seeds that were donated.  She is now 69 years old and has been widowed for 21 years. She lives with 4 of her late daughters’ children, 3 girls and 1 boy.  The first-born is 32 years old and 

disabled. He can neither speak nor walk. The second born is 23 years old, the third born is 10 years old and the last-born is 6years old and is epileptic.  Grace works hard to support her family. She digs and weeds other people’s farm to get food. She         also has her own farm but she has no tools to dig

When the planting season comes she digs other peoples farms with hoes in exchange for oxen to plough her own land. “ Sometimes it takes awhile before I get the oxen to plant in my own farm and I miss the planting season. My grandson would have helped me if he wasn’t in this state,” Grace laments. Grace and her family have one meal a day, which is not guaranteed every day. ‘I’m thankful to God for sending World Relief to us. The seeds and the food really helps,” says Grace. Grace is one hopeful widow. She draws her strength from God who she says is everything to her and the giver of  her joy despite her situation. 

Alexander is one of the orphans who was present during the distribution. He is 8 years old. He was at the ceremony on behalf of his mother who stayed at home because she was too ill to come for the food and seeds for planting. He mentioned that his elder sister who is 13 years old was at home cooking and taking of their mother. Alexander missed school and this was usual for him whenever his mother fell sick.

The food distribution exercise has just begun and 2000 orphans and vulnerable children and 1000 care givers in Nairobi, Eastern, central, Kajiado and Western provinces in Kenya will benefit from this exercise. In mathare, Nairobi, 450 orphans have already benefited from the exercise

 

'10 million Kenyans Face starvation"-World Relief Orphans affected

These are some of the glaring news reports and headlines that we read in the print media, see on the screen and, hear on the radio. One third of the Kenyan population is in dire need of food aid. The expected season of rain failed leading to crop failure. The situation has been made worse by the post elections violence in January where most of the farmers were forced to flee from their homes for safety in Internally Displaced Camps. The President, His Excellency Mwai Kibaki declared the famine a national disaster.

Taking a field trip to one of the areas World Relief Kenya operates, (Mwala, in Machakos district) in the Eastern part of Kenya, we meet various families who are starving. World Relief had provided seeds through the local church-Kiuwanzukini for various households  to plant . That year the crop did very well. The same church in 2007 through this community contributed 10 bags of maize to assist victims of land clashes in Mt. Elgon( West of Kenya) due to the bamper harvest they had experience and at the same time stand in solidarity with the churches that were affected there. Owing to  lack of rainfall in 2008,  the people do not anticipate any harvest. They confess that what they have been consuming during this famine period was part of the harvest they had last year and it has run out. 

The crops that were planted this time round have failed and the people do not anticipate any harvest. The Pastor at Kiuwanzukini church expressed the need for help to come through with the hope for a long-term solution especially water. He laments that the orphans they been taking care of are part of those who have been affected. Through his church committee, they have identified some of the most needy cases and are planning to distribute food to these families.

Meet Mr. Mutua who is a widower and has 10 children. They all depend on him for food and shelter. His wife,Rose, died in 2006 in what was diagnosed as tetanus right after the birth of Mweni the last child.  Rose died when Mweni was only 15 days old. " I didn't know what

 to do. I didn't have milk or anything to feed Mweni,"Says Mutua. He was able to 

recieve assitant from his neighbours who were gracious to help with baby sitting when he was away looking for food.

Mr Mutua laments about the rain. He says " If there was rain then we would have food." His family requires 4 kg of maize flour per meal every day and an extra 2kg of kale or greens leafy vegetables.  He misses his wife who would cook for the children and take care of them while he was busy getting odd jobs(digging land for someone for a fee). Now he has to double up as the father and mother. He is however optimistic that help will come soon.

It is evident that the help World Relief gave to the people of Mwala through the local church was much appreciated. The rains failed and the people of Mwala have to walk for over 3km to find water. Much more help is needed in terms of food aid for the people of Mwala and the Orphans we support in this region.

An Orphans Love by Josephine Ajema- OVC programs coodinator

The story of seven-year old Mureithi reminds me of John 14:18 which says, ‘I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you’. We met him at a local church as we visited to see how the church is implementing the care and support of the orphans and vulnerable children in the community after being empowered through World Relief’s OVC program.

Mureithi was playing with a friend when we walked into the church’s neighborhood. He offered to take us to the church where the pastor was waiting for us along with the other beneficiaries. My eyes set on Mureithi, who seemed too small for his age, I kept thinking that something was seriously wrong with him. Despite all his seeming hardships he was pleasant.

‘I came alone, Mum is sick and at home,’ Mureithi said. The women present interjected and informed us that both his parents were dead and that the one he referred to as ‘mum’ was an aunt. This information really gave me a push to visit his home. As soon as we are done with our meeting at the church I asked the pastor if we could visit with Mureithi at his home. And that was how we ended up at the place Mureithi calls ‘home’.

Mureithi’s home is in the heart of the Kware slum in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado District and like typical slum housing is made of iron sheets (tin). Many are the times the simplicity and innocence of children completely sweeps me off my feet - no wonder they are the greatest in the kingdom of God.

‘Mum, mum, wake up, see I have brought home some visitors.’ shouted Mureithi. He encouraged us to sit on some seats that adorned the ‘sitting area’ of the one roomed house that is their abode. I felt between Mureithi and his aunt a deep and special love that only exists between a mother and son.

Mureithi’s aunt who has a severe eye problem made her way and sat with us in the ‘sitting room’. She is only twenty years old and her name is Mary. Mary explains that she took in Mureithi and his 4-year old sister after their parents died. At the time Mureithi and his sister were living with their grandmother who was unable to take care of them. Mary also explained that the church that we had visited earlier helps her care for the children, and has provided them with school fees. While they are at the school the pastor also gives them a meal. The women from the church also visit to encourage Mary and the children and to help them meet their daily needs.

As we leave I’m encouraged by the results of the program. I know that it has achieved some sustainability; this is why Mureithi and the sister have a home where their needs are met through the support of a caring church community.

World Relief Kenya in Elections Crisis

WR Kenya in the Elections Crisis

Reach
In the midst of the chaos precipitated by results of the Kenya 2007 National Elections, World Relief was involved in the daunting task of assisting victims of the violence. World Relief was required to move promptly but strategically to enable help to reach as many of the affected persons as possible. More than 300,000 people were displaced and over 1,000 people lost their lives in the violence.

Respond
Within the four or five days of the beginning of the crisis, the National Alliance of Churches (NAC) was formed for a better and more coordinated response. Jean Paul was appointed 2nd chair of the NAC after two weeks.

Invest
World Relief embarked on the food distribution process, which catered to all who were in IDP camps and those in slum areas but “locked” in certain geographical zones of the slums because of prevailing ethnic hostilities. World Relief was assigned Dandora and Kibera slums while other partners catered to the Korogosho and Mathare slums.

A total of 2,897 tons of food were distributed to 97,191 families of an average of 6 persons each. The orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly and those living with HIV/AIDs were given first priority.

• The World Relief family regionally and internationally, in solidarity with the Kenya office, assisted in various ways. The World Relief Rwanda team, led by Country Director Phil Smith, came to assist with the emergency food distribution.
• In addition, Mark Smith, the WR International Disaster Response Director, arrived and trained 18 persons from different Nairobi churches on Disaster Response.
• Recently, WR trained 12 more pastors from the Nairobi Pentecostal Church. Karura Chapel's members have likewise received training which they have used as host to more than 200 IDP’s.

Peace Building
World Relief is working on Peace Building and Reconciliation initiatives together with other Christian agencies. Much money and effort have been invested in bringing together senior pastors and bishops for healing first nationally, and progressively more into the provinces.

• Meetings have been held in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. More will be held in Kakamega (Western Province), Eldoret and Nakuru in Rift Valley Province.
• To date 250 pastors have been reached in Mombasa, Kisumu, kakamega and Nairobi.
• World Relief is also working on a curriculum (together with other Christian agencies) for Healing and Reconciliation.