Kenya's churches driving peaceful resolution to crisis

|PIC1|Church leaders are working alongside the Kofi Annan peace talks to play a leading mediation role at the centre of the current crisis in Kenya, according to Christian relief agency Tearfund.

The agency says church leaders are facilitating dialogue between factions within the church and political parties.

"Churches in Kenya are playing a crucial and influential role with the country's political leaders - working tirelessly in this crisis to find common ground that can lead to a peaceful outcome," says Peter Gitau, Tearfund's Regional Advisor in Nairobi.

"We are facilitating and supporting churches in this role - urging leaders and politicians on all sides to come together and resolve differences peacefully. We have visited affected areas together with the political leaders.

"We have been calling for peace, facilitating meetings for church leaders from the affected communities (Luos, Kikuyus, Kalenjins and the Luhyas)."

So far the church political mediation team has held two meetings with President Kibaki and two meetings with Raila Odinga, Kenya's opposition leader. Church leaders have also presented to the Kofi Annan mediation team a memorandum for the Peace Plan Proposal.

As well as supplying urgently required items to the camps set up for internally displaced people (IDP), Tearfund is involved in the church mediation process. Gitau in Nairobi - working together with the National Christian Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Tearfund partner the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), and the Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC), called a crisis meeting just days after the election on 27 December.

This brought together more than 40 different Christian churches, forming a National Alliance of Churches (NAC). The Alliance has focussed on the range of immediate needs arising from this crisis including political mediation, prayer, media and communication and co-ordination of humanitarian relief.

Gitau added, "This crisis has spiralled to one of unprecedented magnitude in Kenya's history - a country that had previously remained a haven of peace for such a long time in the region. The churches and all within Kenyan society must recognise the responsibility to protect life. So many innocent people - women and vulnerable children - are caught up in this needless suffering."

Up to 1,000 people have now been killed in the factional tribal violence. Over a quarter of a million people have fled their homes to reach crowded camps at Burnt Forest, Eldoret, Kakibora in Kitale, Narok, Kipkelion, Molo and Kuresoi areas in Nakuru, Nairobi and Mombassa.

Tearfund partner agencies have provided urgently required items such as blankets, mosquito nets and mobile sanitation kits. Kate Bowen, working for Tearfund's Disaster Management Team is in Nairobi helping the partner agencies respond.

"Although the situation is bad and Kenya is in shock that this could happen to them, in contrast they are also demonstrating their calibre as a nation," she said. "Many churches and congregations have voluntarily provided items at their cost, but those that run the camps do not have more than one day's supply at a time. In Kisumu I heard that members of an Asian community had come to the camp asking what medicines were needed. They returned bringing a full free supply - and repeated this at different locations."

Tearfund is helping this situation by funding relief so that the smaller less supported IDP camps, hosted by churches, can plan for the coming weeks providing respite for families that have hosted internally displaced people.

Many individuals and families have been deeply traumatised by the violence. Those who have reached the camps, escaping horrific injuries themselves, have witnessed atrocities and many have also had their homes destroyed or looted.

Tearfund is funding trauma counselling for displaced people as well as providing this support for its Kenyan staff affected. Tearfund partners have responded by joining with other NGOs and churches by targeting the most vulnerable and marginalised groups that are camping in isolated centres and police stations.

Tearfund is encouraging Christians and UK churches to pray:
• For an end to the ethnic violence and killing between the Luo, Kikuyu and the Kalenjins.
• Against revenge attacks by the communities most affected. The most hit areas are Naivasha, Nakuru, Kericho, Transmara, Mt Elgon, Cherangani, Saboti in Trans Nzoia (Rift Valley province) and Kisumu, Kisii and Nairobi.
• That the Kofi Annan mediation team is given a chance by the two protagonist groups.
• For diplomatic pressure to help secure a peaceful end to the political impasse with an acceptable outcome for all Kenyans.
• For the safety and security of leaders involved in peaceful negotiation, churches and relief agency staff.