The first time that it really hit me the seriousness of the events was when my closest friend Nyox’s uncle was murdered. before that it had been kinda fun and exciting going around in the landcruser rescuing people and giving out food etc. even when we rescued someone who was about to be forcefully circumcised in the street it didn’t hit me properly. there were fires and people fighting but I was not really involved emotionally but when one of your friends loses someone…after that it hit me that people I actually know are affected.
I have been very pleased to see that my mum has loaded some photos for me! these are from quite some time back but nonetheless good to see!
as you have red from my mum’s post I had to flee from Egerton and am now safe in Nakuru, here are posts that I wrote earlier and had saved into a pendisk to go to a cyber with later. there was a computer at the school, YASHA where I was working last week, I was actually, (shock horror to those who know me well) TEACHING computer classes! and art which is not so surprising. but now at the red cross I have found a moment between work to connect to the internet through their special card thing (it is expensive though which is why I cannot send individual emails!)
so now, back at the red cross… I came pretty much in a state of shock on Saturday, from Egerton when we had come with the police escort, on the road there was no-one, just some burnt vehicles. then when we reached town the streets were lined with people sitting on their belongings, homeless. I was scared. I had wanted to come back to Red Cross but not like that! when we saw the house burning we were all just outside looking at the flames, hearing the wails and gunshots and sirens. the next day we went to see the sight, no one was hurt but nothing was left. Those people now have to relocate. so back at red cross I am now kinda an IDP myself, have been staying at various other volunteers places, Scovia who I was staying with before has gone to work I Eldoret, Winnies place has been unsafe as has Janice’s. Most people are hosting many other volunteers or family members, we all pull together at Red Cross, it is a great community. Today I am working in the office but for the rest of the week I have been back at the showground, one of now three camps operating under Nakuru branch red cross, things there are not as they wee before. we now have around 6000+ IDPs but it is hard to manage, they are being given only one meal per day- there is some problem as there is enough food but it seems no way of cooking efficiently for so many people. I was issuing gate passes but then found people walking willy nilly in and out. It is frustrating. the president was meant to be coming yesterday but then one of the leading opposition leaders was murdered in Nairobi leading to complete chaos. here in town things seem fairly stable, we can walk around again but there is still a curfew 6pm-6pm and many people out guarding their houses with bangas (big knives) even one of my friends Mash has been out in the night with the other men of their estate ‘providing security’, I wonder what good it is but then what do you do if all your neibours are out? Say no I won’t protect the women and children? so I understand why he is out. People are advised not to travel and if they do it is with a police escort. I would not go anywhere no my own at the moment. We wonder when all of this will be over. I was disappointed to hear Annan the mediator say that he hopes in the next year things will be sorted! A YEAR! That is too long but then look at the destruction…
No comments:
Post a Comment