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This, from Lynne White:

February 16, 2008

The Kenya I knew yesterday was quiet, peaceful and friendly. Tourists flocked to resorts to see the wildlife. It was a beautiful country until the election in December 2007. The Kenya I know now is very different and far removed from the peaceful Kenya I once knew. Today it is volatile and angry. Nobody smiles in major shopping centers; they are there to do what they need to do before getting to their homes which are usually a safe haven from the fighting. We never know when fighting is going to erupt or where.

This fighting is between two tribes, the Kikuyu and the Luo people. It is a result of the fixed election that took place the 27th of December, 2007. President Kibaki (a Kikuyu) was in power, called the election for that time, and people say it was not a fair election. It seemed for the longest time that Raila, the leader of the opposition, was going to win. He is a Luo from Kisumu and everyone in our area indicated they wanted a change of government. Very few indicated they would vote for Kibaki. One of our employees was involved in the vote counting in her polling station and she indicated the results they tabulated were not the results posted from Nairobi's main reporting station. When Kibaki was declared the "winner" of the election and sworn in the next day as President, chaos erupted. The Luo took out their frustrations on the Kikuyu people. Their possessions were stolen, their houses burned to the ground and some were murdered. A whole church full of worshippers in Eldoret were burned to death. Others were burned to death in their houses. Two buses going from our area into Nairobi were stopped at an illegal roadblock somewhere near the Rift Valley. All people on the buses were murdered and the buses set on fire and destroyed. As a result, bus fare tripled and all buses from around here leave in a convoy and are escorted by the militia into Nairobi.

For the most part we are removed from the fighting that is taking place. The little village we are in is peaceful and the only sign of strife I witnessed was on December 30 when all the Kikuyu from our village were driven away. They were told if they ever return they will be murdered. The items in their shop they had for sale were stolen; their shop was torn apart and dragged into the middle of the street where it was then burned. All the little kiosks along the main road were also dismantled and burned in the street. After a week of cleanup the town returned to "normal" and all was well with those who remained behind. We are only able to buy fruits and vegetables locally: for everything else we must go to Kakamega or Kisumu.

In Kakamega it is still volatile. We always call ahead to one of our board members who lives there to see what the town is like before venturing there. If it is not quiet we wait for a day or two before trying again. We can buy things like infant formula there but even that is getting harder to purchase. The case lots we ordered are not getting through. We do have one store that is willing to order in the case lots of formula and sell it to us at wholesale price. We appreciate their support. In exchange, we do buy many of our grocery items from them.

We go to Kakamega once a week with three babies for physiotherapy. We usually take two at a time, Emily goes every week due to her Cerebral Palsy but the other two go once every two weeks so I take two babies each time I go. Once we went when it wasn't really safe to do so. Thankfully we were okay but one of the physiotherapists couldn't make it in to work due to the volatility that day. She didn't feel safe leaving her home so she did not venture out.

Some statistics I was able to gather while in Kenya:

350,000 people are displaced. Many of them are in police compounds where they are as safe as they can be, sleeping under makeshift tents and dependent on the Kenya Red Cross for food. Some children are there without their parents and do not know if their parents are dead or alive. They do not know what will become of them. Some are begging to stay with their neighbors just so they have a sense of familiarity and security. What will become of these children? Nobody knows at this time. The numbers of people seeking shelter at police compounds is growing daily.

Over 800 people have been killed. From what I have heard that is a very low estimate. Among these, two are MPs with the opposition party. The first was shot while at his gate waiting for someone to open the gate for him.

500,000 people have lost their jobs temporarily or permanently. The tourism industry has laid off half of its workforce because tourists are no longer coming to the country. Another industry deeply affected is the dairy industry. Farmers are getting milk from their cows but due to illegal road blocks are not able to get the milk to the dairy. As a result, a lot of the milk is being poured onto their fields. Even if milk gets to the creamery, there is no way to get the milk, cheese, or yogurt to the consumer due to the roadblocks.

In our area we can no longer purchase yogurt or cheese. We are across the road from an experimental farm and college. We are able to purchase raw milk from them which we bring home and boil and feed to our toddlers. At least we can get milk for the babies but they also enjoy yogurt and we don't know when it will start moving through the country again.

Many people are against having European influence in the country. I have heard many times that a resolution may be possible but not if it is imposed by Europeans. Anyone with white skin is considered a European. For now, in our community, our presence is appreciated because we offer employment to an area where there is very little employment opportunity. We need to raise money for building to give the men in the community something constructive to do. We are employing women and widows to work with the orphans. They are grateful for the income for their families. We are purchasing as much as we can locally and people appreciate that. The economic spin-off of our being there benefits everyone in the community. We are safe where we are, but must be careful when traveling to Kakamega or Kisumu.

Kisumu is the major centre where we can purchase things like lettuce which cannot be purchased anywhere else around us. We also get "Loopy Nuts" cereal which is like our "Cheerios". They are great finger food for the toddlers but we are limited in how many times we can get to Kisumu to get these items.

Life has changed in Kenya. When the fighting will stop is anyone's guess. Some people think we can return to "normal" very soon, others say it will take a year. I pray that it will be a short time and that those who have had everything taken from them will be able to rebuild their lives and will not seek retaliation for the damages.

Kenya was a beautiful country and can be again. We must all work together to help restore the country to what it was before the election. We have to wonder, is it possible?

In our orphanage we have accepted yet another baby. This one was taken from her mother because she didn't know how to take care of the infant. She is three weeks old and seems to be healthy. This brings the total number of children we are providing care for to 7, all under the age of 19 months. We are a busy family! We have a house mom and helpers to look after the children and do all the cooking and cleaning that is required.

Should you wish to ask me any further questions, you may contact me at iandlwhite (@) hotmail.com

Thank you for your interest in our work,
Lynne White