A TV frame grab taken on January 1, 2008 shows aerial footage of the area where a church was attacked near Eldoret, some 310 km (193 miles) northwest of Nairobi. A mob torched a Kenyan church on Tuesday, killing about 30 villagers cowering inside, as the death toll from ethnic riots triggered by President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election soared to at least 180.
(Kenyan Red Cross via REUTERS TV/Reuters)
By Jeff Nelson, Missionary to Kenya
January 4, 2008
The December 27, 2007 election and its aftermath triggered the worst tribal violence Kenya has seen in its 45 year history since independence. After a close ballet count that more often showed opposition candidate, Raila Odinga leading than incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, the final count announced that President Kibaki had won by a slim margin. The President orchestrated a swearing in ceremony within hours of the announcement. The opposition candidate rejected the results and his supporters began to riot in the streets.
Within days the fighting has spread to at least five major centers (Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Naivasha and Eldoret). The fighting has focused on the tribal affiliations of the two leaders: the Kikuyu tribe of President Kibaki and the Luo tribe of candidate Odinga. Estimates are that nearly 200 people have died in the fighting, 150,000 have been displaced from their homes. (http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/ nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=113914) Others have figures of 300 or more now dead.
This violence is hitting very close to home for us. Although we are in the US this year on deputation, our hearts are heavy as we hear of the pain of our beloved adopted homeland. The Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG) church in rural Eldoret was the subject of national news New Years Eve as some 200 had sought refuge in the church. The opposing tribe attacked the church, set it ablaze and killed many with pangas (local word for machetes) trying to flee. A KAG member wrote to me by instant messaging: “they locked children and mothers then old ladies and the torched the church.” Our KAG pastor was injured. All the hospital beds were full so he was not treated immediately. He has since been helped at a private facility in the area. I received the following email from a missionary friend from Europe living in Eldoret. They saw the fire described above from their home on New Years Eve.
Hi Jeff, Just to let you know, that we are safe. It is not nice. And we are deeply touched and feel with people around us. (My husband) has lots of peace. I am more troubled. Children take it quite well. We have only left our compound 2 times since 23rd - to do shopping.
New Years Eve was an evening we never forget. We had to cancel celebration with friends - and could see a big fire from our windows... Thanks for praying for the country of Kenya and the people here and for us also. God bless. And happy new year to you!
East Africa School of Theology (EAST), the Bible school I serve as Academic Dean when I am in country is closed. It is just a few kilometers from the city center. The people inside are concerned for their own safety and the ability to get food as looting has removed food from shelves and transportation has been disrupted. Nairobi, a city of 3 million plus people, is in turmoil. Two of our largest slums; Kibera and Mathari, have been in flames. I received communication from a secretary at EAST. “Here at EAST we are safe, in spite lacking food items, but outside there it’s bad. Please pray harder than before. The denomination leaders have declared prayer and fasting from today for three days, oh my Jeff you can’t believe the killings that are going on. No transport. Torching houses; it’s terrible” Our registrar had left campus for the funeral of one of our students and has not been able to return due to the risk of travel from upcountry.
Our Christian elementary and high schools have not reopened after the Christmas holiday. Rosslyn Academy, in Nairobi, and Rift Valley Academy, about one hour outside Nairobi, both remain closed awaiting calm and safety.
Our missionaries and national brothers and sisters in Kenya are in need of our prayers. Please pray for peace and calm to return to the nation we love so much.
Those who would like to send financial help through the Kenya Assemblies of God can do so through
http://ag.org/top/
follow the links from there
Contributions, Disaster Relief, World Relief
Designate Kenya Relief: AGWM Suffering Church 649230 (60)
To assist the Kenya Assemblies of God, AG World Missions has set up an opportunity to give through its Suffering Church Fund. To donate, go to http://world.ag.org or call toll free 1-866-470-9514.
You can read and see more at the following web site:
http://ag.org/top/ see Kenya AG church burned with people inside (the full link is below)
http://ag.org/top/news/news_article_template.cfm?ArticleID=10179&NamedFormatID=2001Article&SearchDepartment=01-140&SearchStartDate=12/05/2007&SearchMaxRows=3&SearchMaxRecordCount=3336
