Project Area
Kenya is an East African country famed for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. However in the last 3 months, the country has captured the headlines for a different reason. Widespread violence, which has caused a growing humanitarian crisis, was triggered in Kenya by the announcement on 30 December 2007 that incumbent Mwai Kibaki had narrowly won a hotly contested presidential election against Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga.
For over three months the targeted ethnic violence has resulted in alarming reports of killings, injuries, gender-based violence, extensive looting and destruction of property and mass displacement of the population. It is estimated that more than 1,500 people have been killed and around 500,000 families have been displaced from their homes.
As Kenya plays a regional economic, commercial, political, development and humanitarian hub supporting Somalia, Uganda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, this has meant that the impact of the crisis has been felt beyond its borders into almost all of these countries.
After weeks of rancorous negotiations to resolve a post-election conflict that killed nearly 1,500 people. In March 2008 the two rival parties signed an agreement on power-sharing. Under the agreement, President Mwai Kibaki retains the position of president, while Opposition leader Raila Odinga is the prime minister. As Prime Minister, he has constitutional power to coordinate and supervise the cabinet.
The peace remains fragile at the moment. The two politicians and their lieutenants fight over control of the bloated cabinet of 42, the biggest cabinet since independence more than 40 years ago. This development has triggered more violence and suspicions albeit on a smaller scale.
Rift Valley Province had been the most affected by the post-election violence with more than 400 people killed, 250,000 displaced and 80,000 houses torched, according to the provincial administration. As a project we are trying to help the victims from Kuresoi part of Nakuru District.
Historically, Kuresoi has been associated with a lot of tribal fighting during the election in 1992, 1997 and 2002. In the latest cycle, violence began in the Rift Valley almost a month before KenyaÕs December 27 elections as minority communities, mainly Kikuyus and Kisiis, started being hounded out of their houses by rival ethnic groups.
The Internally Displaced Persons remain in camps waiting for restoration of peace before they can return to what remains of their former homes and farms. Although there are difficulties in assessing the situation fully, the priority needs during the this acute phase of the emergency are identified as food, shelter, health and hygiene, water and sanitation and protection.