Eyewitness accounts from Kenya

[Guest guest]

Eyewitness accounts from Kenya

The Missionary News Service has issued these first-hand accounts from

different missionaries working in Kenya. For security reasons they

have all asked to remain anonymous.

ELDORET: " Churches and schools have turned into dormitories for

thousands of people who are escaping in fear from the past days'

violence. We asked in vain to the police for some protection. We got

no response. The city of Eldoret is amongst the country's hottest

spots. Violence spreads and there's a shortage of basic goods, from

fruit to fuel. Prices literally increased by four. "

KISUMU : " The curfew is on during the night and nobody moves. The

atmosphere is relatively calm but food is lacking because shops and

markets have been closed for days. Last night even bars stayed open

late. Today we can see some vehicles, transport, ordinary activity.

It's still to early to say whether banks and offices are open. We

hope they will resume working and that we will be able to find

essential goods such as flour, bread, milk, spices, vegetables, which

have been lacking for days. "

MARALAL: " Many spent the night at the police station, others at a

vigil in the mission which lasted all night. Yesterday, on the first

of January, the atmosphere was relatively calm. Some Kikuyus were

taken to the city of Nyahururu by police-escorted buses. As a

consequence, Samburus in Nyahururu are now in danger and they were

invited to leave the city and go back to Maralal. The situation

calmed down in the afternoon, when shops were re-opened and people

could do some shopping. It's not peace yet, but people are

breathing. "

MOMBASA: " After the December 31's major tensions, the situation got

relatively calm yesterday. Someone told me that is because there is

nothing left to steal! Many houses were robbed around Likoni and our

mission is hosting between 150 and 300 refugees, mostly women and

children. The night went by calmly, because we were escorted by the

police. The Red Cross offered us blankets, but food is what we need

the most. "

NAIROBI: " I am receiving SMS's from various parts of Nairobi.

Everybody is in the same situation of fear, unsafety and lack of food

and other things, especially peace. They wonder what is going on and

why it is happening. Everybody is praying God to save them from this

madness. They pray and invite other people to pray so that peace can

prevail. And they fear for their children, for their future. "

Source: MISNA

[Guest guest]

Eyewitness accounts from Kenya

The Missionary News Service has issued these first-hand accounts from

different missionaries working in Kenya. For security reasons they

have all asked to remain anonymous.

ELDORET: " Churches and schools have turned into dormitories for

thousands of people who are escaping in fear from the past days'

violence. We asked in vain to the police for some protection. We got

no response. The city of Eldoret is amongst the country's hottest

spots. Violence spreads and there's a shortage of basic goods, from

fruit to fuel. Prices literally increased by four. "

KISUMU : " The curfew is on during the night and nobody moves. The

atmosphere is relatively calm but food is lacking because shops and

markets have been closed for days. Last night even bars stayed open

late. Today we can see some vehicles, transport, ordinary activity.

It's still to early to say whether banks and offices are open. We

hope they will resume working and that we will be able to find

essential goods such as flour, bread, milk, spices, vegetables, which

have been lacking for days. "

MARALAL: " Many spent the night at the police station, others at a

vigil in the mission which lasted all night. Yesterday, on the first

of January, the atmosphere was relatively calm. Some Kikuyus were

taken to the city of Nyahururu by police-escorted buses. As a

consequence, Samburus in Nyahururu are now in danger and they were

invited to leave the city and go back to Maralal. The situation

calmed down in the afternoon, when shops were re-opened and people

could do some shopping. It's not peace yet, but people are

breathing. "

MOMBASA: " After the December 31's major tensions, the situation got

relatively calm yesterday. Someone told me that is because there is

nothing left to steal! Many houses were robbed around Likoni and our

mission is hosting between 150 and 300 refugees, mostly women and

children. The night went by calmly, because we were escorted by the

police. The Red Cross offered us blankets, but food is what we need

the most. "

NAIROBI: " I am receiving SMS's from various parts of Nairobi.

Everybody is in the same situation of fear, unsafety and lack of food

and other things, especially peace. They wonder what is going on and

why it is happening. Everybody is praying God to save them from this

madness. They pray and invite other people to pray so that peace can

prevail. And they fear for their children, for their future. "

Source: MISNA