Education Hurdles for Kids of IDPs

Since displacement in 2007/2008 owed to post poll violence, education for victims has not been the same again. It has been a race for survival and education is simply not a priority. There are all kinds of dangers youthful IDPs become prone to due to a halt in education. A country, region or community can never progress without proper education and this is just a hurdle the internally displaced need to overcome to secure a bright future.

In a swaying torn tent at the Maai Mahiu IDP camp, 3 year old Ruth Nyaruai chants the letters of the alphabet; showing great prowess and potential that may remain just that. Mary Muthoni 16 and a third born of the family tells of the grave struggle for education and knowledge. ‘Studying at home is a big challenge since we only have one lamp. Our mother might need it more than us. When the baby cries at night, we have to use the lamp to ensure all is well. Before I know it, the clock strikes 11 pm. With strong angry winds and cold, I’m forced to go to sleep and cannot study’ Mary Muthoni laments.  

  

In parliament, the debate on resettlement of IDPs continues. Mixed reactions and proposals have been forwarded. Gideon Mung’aro mp for Malindi filed the motion suggesting that IDPs should be resettled in their original farms. Minister for special programs Ms Murugi in reaction stated that the victims were too traumatized and could therefore not be forced back to a place that would remind them of previous chaos. This leaves a lot is to be desired regarding how the authorities have managed the crisis.

Organizations of good will have played a part in making this crisis bearable for victims. Family Media and Habitat for Humanity are spearheading the Building Hope Campaign aimed at building permanent homes to IDPs and restoring their dignity. This move will provide normalcy and the education hurdles for children in camps can be overcome.  Join us today as we make a difference!

Are You Making The IDP Situation Better or Worse?

On Radio 316, the IDP reflection on rejection was both worrying and eye-opening. It started with resettlement rejection from people of Narok who upon learning that the government was planning this, resisted. You will remember that mass protests by the Maasai community led many IDPs to feel insecure even after they had accepted the government plans to settle them in the Narok area.

More recently, communities in Kitale openly expressed their intolerance as IDPs were outrightly rejected. Upon learning that the government had acquired the Kitale land, the IDPs were very happy but this jubilation was short-lived. According to a Kitale resident, ‘there are many squatters here already who have never been resettled and we don’t need other people to occupy our land’.

Former foreign affairs minister in a radio interview was quoted to have echoed ‘If there is any replacement, let the government settle those who have never been settled right here first’. He went on to add that consultation before making such decisions with communities was paramount for the government. Callers on Radio 316 expressed their varied emotions and the bottom line was to urge Kenyans not to add to the problems but rather embrace each other as brothers and sisters.

Even now, there is some element of suspicion with communities and this has not made the IDP issue any better. For all people especially Christians, there is a role you can play to make a difference. You can be the voice of peace even in discourses that encourage tribal intolerance. Additionally, you can help settle IDPs and Family Media together with Habitat for Humanity spearhead an awesome project. It is the Building Hope; One People United Campaign; which we plan to built at least 135 permanent homes for IDPs of Maai Mahiu. It is such initiatives that bring progress to this often - monotonous topic of IDPs.

Together, we can play an activate role in propagating love, peace and unity just as our lord instructs us. See the donate button for detailed information on how you can participate and let us stand out as people making a positive difference for the internally displaced persons in our country.

Oppression, Suffering and Death…. Does God Really Care for IDPs

Displacement of people unjustly from their land and livelihood is not limited to some regions or countries. Many people in the world have suffered and continue to bear the load of displacement for political, social and economic reasons. In Kenya, competition for natural resources, political unrest and others have been responsible for numerous injustices that leave certain communities (groups of people) without land and homes.

 

1992 Rift Valley clashes in Kenya and the more recent 2007/2008 post election chaos are just two examples. In Kiambaa (Eldoret) a church harboring people (escaping the violence) was torched and many were burnt alive. Rape, torture, maiming and death are other inhuman acts that featured. The result was hopelessness and many blaming and questioning God.  Where was God in all this and does he really care?

Traumatized victims up to now have not come to terms with the disastrous happenings. However, a good number of IDPs interviewed on the ground have forgiven their attackers but cannot forget. The bible holds all the answers regarding God’s stand and will amidst the trouble. One of the most agonizing seasons characterized by oppression is when the children of Israel were taken captive by Egyptians and enslaved for many years. Deuteronomy 26:6-9 states that they (children of Israel) were mistreated and subjected to inhuman hard labor. But what did they do? ‘We cried to the lord, the God of our fathers and the lord heard our cry and saw our toil and misery. He then rescued us with mighty miracles and gave us land flowing with milk and honey’. 

God is the same forever and his will is not for people to suffer; instead, he recues those who cry out for him. Many IDPs have testified to drawing closer to God after their ordeal. Even now, so much more needs to be done. Housing, food, education, and proper sanitation are just examples of needs that Kenyan post-poll IDPs yearn for. Many organizations including Family Media and Habitat for Humanity are spearheading projects that meet some of these needs. God is about healing and restoration and in Psalms 12.5 ‘‘Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD. I will protect them from those who malign them."

IDPs and any other person who feels oppressed can rest assured in the words above echoed by God. In Psalm 140:12, David with confidence recorded ‘I know the lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy’. Even in suffering, there is a ray of hope and a reason to go on.  Just like God used unimaginable miracles to rescue Israelites from their oppressors, the lord is faithful and is keen to the cries of his people.  

IDPs And The Broken Promises

The 2007/2008 post election violence initiated one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in Kenya. Displacement of persons who previously had homes and livelihoods took centre stage as tribes warred against each other. There are many reasons that have been cited for the chaos among them vote rigging, tribal supremacy, poverty, land inequality, hooliganism and sheer rage or incitement from powerful leaders. There have been attempts to address the core issues but in retrospect, there are many displaced whose hopes have been shattered and restoration has been an uphill task.

The government has from time to time given deadlines for resettling the displaced but so far, these promises are yet to be honored. December 2010 was yet another timeline given to resettle IDPS. Even as the middle of this year draws near, the displaced are in their thousands spending nights in cold worn out tents. Resettlement has been done for a number but this has not been enough. The government has been accused of laxity, miscalculation and mismanagement of the IDP crisis. Cases of corruption have certainly been reported and monies have gone unaccounted for bringing to the forefront the ugly reality of persisting corruption. 

Broken promises to the IDPs also touch on justice. The coalition government after having signed the accord promised to stand by justice and bring to book perpetrators of the violence. However, up to date, very few or no prosecutions have been made and the so-called ‘big fish’ are yet to face justice. As if this is not enough, top government officials are against the international justice system as provided by the ICC. Impunity once gain seems to be winning the day. On a bright side, the government together with humanitarian groups has made an effort to feed and to source other basic items for the displaced. This effort has however not been enough because on the ground, people’s dignity has greatly been compromised.  

IDPs in various areas can talk about one broken promise after the other. The picture is not entirely ridden with gloom; there are organizations that have played a pivotal part in making life bearable for the IDPS. Family Media and Habitat for Humanity are just an example of organizations on the ground that is making a difference. In partnership, they are building permanent homes to a tune of 27 million. By the end of 3 months, a total of 135 stone homes will be built to settle IDPs of Maai Mahiu. ‘Building hope; one people united’ project should inspire more people to take on the responsibility to ensure that fellow human beings are living in dignity. Because of this project, many men and women of Maai Mahiu will have at least one promise fulfilled. 

The Sad Tale of IDP’S at Maai Mahiu

Strong relentless winds blow over the bare land while clouds of sand fill the air. Here, 5 kilometers from Maai Mahiu live 335 displaced families. They have been living here since 31st October 2008, after leaving the Eldoret Showground; where they had been driven by violence that broke out after general elections of 2007. After nine months characterized by deplorable living conditions in the showground, they decided to leave for Maai Mahiu.

Muhinga, who died the next day

According to Francis Kasinge; the camp chairman, “the local people were still very hostile and therefore nobody wanted to go back home; particularly not when the issues that caused the violence were not resolved. Besides, many people lost their homes and all their belongings, so they had nothing to go back to anyway."     

235 families agreed to contribute whatever they had and move to Maai Mahiu. 35 busses were hired to ferry the 1,340 people to their new home. “We bought 2 ½ acres of land at 100.000 shillings per acre."

  

Later, they got 25,000 shillings from the government in which they agreed to contribute KSH 13,000 per family to buy yet another 27 acres. “With the help of the DO and DC, the land was marketed and surveyed. Then each family had to pick a number to get its own plot” Kasinge adds.

Now they had land, but no house. They were living in tents, provided by the UNHCR, under poor conditions to say the least. “Then we started looking for well wishers to assist us to built houses. We found Habitat that gave us building materials for permanent houses” he states.

Each house costs 200.000 shillings and has three rooms, with a pit latrine. From the 335 planned houses, 200 are complete and are occupied. More money from donors is needed to build the remaining 109 houses.  Kasinge appeals “We pray that more well wishers will come forward to help." 

Interestingly, the ever cheerful chairman himself still lives in a tent. In Kenya you would expect him to be the first one to occupy a stone house.  He adds “I sacrifice for my people; I want them to be helped first. So that they get hope and believe again in the future. They see that I am not running away. It's hard sometimes, especially when the rain destroys my documents. But the good thing is that we feel safe here. We have our own piece of land, the local population is very friendly and slowly we manage to restore our lives."

The government provides them every month mainly with food stuffs specifically maize, beans, and cooking oil.  According to the chairman, the food is not really enough, but they also get supplies from other well wishers and ngo's like Nairobi Sports Club: they donated four water tanks.  From the locals they hire a piece of land for 1000 shillings per acre to plant food crops.  
 

Despite Kasinge’s optimism, it's clear that the conditions, under which people are still living in tents, are critically appalling. The strong winds that pound continuously on the tents tear the ropes and frames. When it rains people get wet. They sleep on old, worn out mattresses. Water is fetched from a well two kilometers down the road.     

Esther Waithera Ndungu (65) saw her own tent completely torn by winds that get stronger later in the day. So she and her two grandchildren moved in with a neighbor, widower Joseph Karuri.  She fled in 2008 from the election violence near Eldoret that saw her daughter, the mother of the children, killed.

It was the second time that Esther was victimized by election violence. The first time was during the Moi-era in 1992 on the onset of the multiparty system. She was then evicted from Londiani, where her house was set on fire. ‘The violence after the 2007 elections was worse", says Esther. 

The misery has really traumatized her. She doesn't really like to talk about it and every time she is asked to narrate what happened to her, she cries and is upset for days.  ‘It has been a horrible experience. I want to forgive, but I can't forget” she adds.

She doesn't expect a lot from life anymore “I am old now” she says.  But she is still looking forward to a new stone house. She is sure it will make her happy.  “As soon as my friend got her house, you could immediately see the difference, she had a happy face."  

Tabitha is 37 and mother of nine children. She lived in Nandi Hills when one day in the beginning of 2008 she was warned that people were after her and her family. She fled with the children - the youngest one was just one day old.  She ran to a neighbor’s house; hers was torched. She escaped later to the police station, and ended up at the Eldoret Showground.

She doesn't want to go back; it was all too traumatizing. Afraid that people want to harm her again, “When we left that area in 2008 we saw the attackers on the hills, approaching with bows and arrows, and when they saw us being carried away by a truck they started shouting, kill them, kill them” she laments.

The food she gets from the government is never enough for her family. “The just give a certain amount per family but they don't consider the size of the family." 

Habitat representative Samuel Gathana tells of the many problems the youth is facing in the camp. “They look for jobs, which are difficult to find. Many girls end up as prostitutes in nearby Maai Mahiu. Consequently, HIV and Aids is on the rise."

Small children hang around the tents all day. They don't look very healthy, many seem to be malnourished. The older ones go to the primary school that has been constructed here. This is until the long rains start when the deep trenches along the camp will be filled with water streaming down Mt.Longonot and Mt. Kijabe, which will them cut off from the school. “The government has promised us time and again that they will build a bridge, but still nothing has been done and the rains are near yet again."     

Samuel Muhinga, 90 was until recently, the oldest occupant in the camp. He lost his wife and son in the election violence. He talks about how he fought as a Mau Mau warrior against the British colonialists, how he brought freedom to Kenya and how sad it is he ends up leaving in a leaking tent. “That's not the freedom we fought for."  Muhinga will sadly never enjoy the comfort of a new stone house; he died a day later.

Building Homes and Building Hope

The wake of post election violence of 2007/2008 in Kenya changed the lives of thousands in a flash. Children became orphans, women became widows, men widowers and those who had homes became homeless. It is this reality that led to the sprouting of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs. Family Media is always championing causes that add value to humanity and together with Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFH), we are happy to launch the 'Building Hope: One People United' project.

As partners, we plan to build a total of 135 permanent houses for the IDPs of Maai Mahiu, Naivasha.  Family Media is proud to provide publicity worth KSH 35 million through features and documentaries on TV, Radio and the World Wide Web. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization that has the mission of eliminating poverty in Kenya providing decent housing for the needy. In this project, each unit will cost KSH 200,000.

The 'Building Hope: One People United' project provides restoration, gives hope and a home for these needy people. True to Matthew 25:40, providing hope to the least of these is doing it unto the Lord. This project is worth KSH 27 million and will commence on the 1ST of April and run for 3 months. Together, we can make a difference and there is no doubt that God will be glorified. Don't hesitate to join us and be part of this awesome initiative!