Despite the mediation by Kofi Annan, the former U.N. secretary-general, illegal militias and violence, including alleged excessive use of force by police still continue to affect the lives of many innocent Kenyans.
Mobs have been setting homes and businesses on fire. More than 1000 people have died in the latest clashes. The recent killing of two ODM elected members of parliament by a police officer and unknown people have ignited the unlawfulness in the country. The government keeps saying that the security situation in the Kenya is under control!
The police are a bit over-stretched with work and already taking sides hence a huge need for a preventative deployment of the military. The shooting of legislator David Kimutai added to the distrust of police. The police are no longer neutral and behind some the killings that have taken place in the country. Police stations were targeted with a mob of 3,000 armed with bows and arrows, spears, clubs and machetes ending up killing some police officers. The mob complains of police officers wounding civilians when police opened fire on protesters demonstrating over the death of a Member of Parliament. It was the first police casualty reported in a month of bloodshed in which police have acknowledged killing scores of people.
In another village, six people were hacked to death and two killed with poisoned arrows. Kalenjin people are killing Kisii, blaming them for the legislator's killing because they are considered government allies. The fighting there continues!!
More than 300,000 people have been forced from their homes in violence that degenerated into ethnic clashes over decades-old grudges about land and other resources. It has pitted other tribes against Kibaki's Kikuyu people, who are resented for their long domination of politics and the economy.
There is no sign of the violence letting up in the western Rift Valley, scene of the worst clashes. About 20 elders of the Kalenjin tribe, angered by police shootings in their town of Eldoret, blamed the government and vowed vengeance. Most people in the opposition strongholds have said that if the government will continue shooting and directing guns at there people, they will rise up in arms.
There is no law and order in Kenya as some people have stolen guns from a police station. Many youths in rural Kenyan opposition areas say they want guns, this is an indicator that things may turn worse and terrible at any time.
On Rusinga Island, there has been peaceful demonstrations. There are school activities in the public primary schools despite the government encouraging parents to take there children to school. The parents fear their children may be burnt alive in schools or the older ones poached for military actions. No guardian or parent is interested in taking their children away from the village. The Kageno nursery school has been affected as children are not coming to school out of fear. There is no circulation of money hence some people are not getting enough food, medication and other basic needs. The prices of industrial products have at least doubled making many people ignoring other basic needs in life leading to poor health. Kageno will be keen on providing free medication to sick people from the services of Plasse Family Dispensary. There is also a huge need to support elderly people and children with relief food to improve on their nutrition. Provision of mosquito nets is very necessary at this time especially for families who miss the nets at home.
Kageno is continuing with her activities on Rusinga and Mfangano Islands and more humanitarian aid is necessary in these specific places and Kenya in general. I am looking forward to keep you posted on any specific area of interest.
Thank you very much for all your help to Kageno and the situation in Kenya.
Alphonce Okuku,
Kageno Kenya Trust,
Country Director
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