The Catholic and Anglican bishops' conferences, interfaith coalitions and NGOs have called for an end to the awful scenes of destruction, violence and murder which have convulsed the country since the presidential elections. They urged that dialogue between the groups representing President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga has to take place. Nevertheless, both sides seem stubbornly implacable in refusing to join mediated dialogue.

This past 27 of December, Kenyans voted nationwide in presidential, parliamentary and civic elections. From the very beginning the campaigns were characterized by political tension. The presidential contest was mainly between the candidates representing the country’s two largest political parties. Mr Raila Odinga represented the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), whereas President Mwai Kibaki was seeking a re-election representing the Party for National Unity (PNU).

Chaos started when the counting of votes for the presidential election seemed to take longer than normal. As the results of the parliamentary elections continued to be announced, the presidential vote results somehow began to be excluded from the official announcements. Then, on 30 December, Mwai Kibaki was declared president. Observers from the European Union and the African Union described the elections as "highly disputed".

IDPs in Kenya standing in line for food in Kachimbola, Kitale

More than 600 people are believed to have been killed in post-election violence, more than 250,000 have been internally displaced and a further 6,000 have fled to neighbouring Uganda. The violence has also led to shortages of fuel and other essential commodities. On 17 January, the prospect for peace and stability in Kenya was looking even bleaker as violent clashes continued in several cities. The fighting mainly took place between supporters of ODM and the police after the government banned three days of political rallies. These had been called by the opposition to contest the outcome of the presidential elections. "We support these calls for dialogue, and an end to violence. The country can no longer afford the politics of fiefdoms of ethnic privilege and patronage. It is time to strive for the common good, based on principles of justice and equity, and agree how all citizens can contribute and share in Kenya’s prosperity and growth", JRS Eastern Africa Regional Director, Joe Hampson, stated on 18 January. Staff in the JRS regional and country offices faces difficulties moving around the capital Nairobi, going into work only when transport is available. The normal pattern of life has been severely affected in Nairobi, as it has in many other parts of the country, and this is likely to continue for some time.

JRS Kenya Director, Anne Wangari, recently returned from field visits in Limuru, on the outskirts of Nairobi, and in Eldoret and Kitale dioceses in the west of the country, where an estimated 45,000 and 43,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) presently reside.

In Kitale some 17,000 IDPs have found temporary shelter in a school. However, as the school year begins, they will have to be relocated. Bishop Crawley described the situation as enormously problematic, exacerbated by long-running separatist movements in the Mount Elgon area.

Mother with her children living in make-shift house in compound of Eldoret Cathedral

JRS' response will be both short- and long-term. It is presently providing supplementary food to children, blankets, clothes, sanitary supplies to women, and shelter to displaced persons in general. In the longer-term, JRS plans to provide psychological support to those traumatized by violence, as well as technical and material support to farmers in already fragile affected areas. In the last four years, fertilizer prices have tripled and the price of animals used to plough farmers’ fields have become unaffordable for many. In partnership with the Jesuit social centre, Hakimani Institute, and in cooperation with agencies on the ground there, including Caritas, Trocaire, and the Red Cross, JRS also plans to work in Kitale diocese.

Emergency assistance of $10,000 sent by Canadian Jesuits International is helping rebuild in areas served by Pleasant Hill Kindergarten School, St. George’s College and a Rural Development Program.

February 6, 2008