Crisis escalates for Nazarenes in Kenya

Nakuru, Kenya
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Over the weekend, Nakuru exploded in violence in reprisal for ethnic killings. On Saturday, January 26, the district superintendent (D.S.) of Kenya Rift Valley was in Nairobi, Kenya, to chair the district assembly for Kenya Central District. He was in touch with his wife and Nazarene pastors in Nakuru who reported the violence and civil unrest had resulted in many killings along with burning of homes. The D.S. attempted to travel to his family, but was turned back because of mob-violence. He spent Sunday in Nairobi, staying in touch with his family and pastors by phone. His family has barricaded themselves in their home, which is in a protected, walled, compound.In a phone conversation with the pastor in Nakuru early Monday morning, Africa East Field Strategy Coordinator Don Gardner was advised that over 100 people have been camping at the church since Friday, January 25. Water is still available through the city supply. However, the people have not eaten since Saturday because they cannot leave the compound for fear of their lives. All the houses and buildings surrounding the church compound have been destroyed and burned. It is only this compound that remains standing. There are bodies lying all around and no one is making an effort to collect them. There is a further concern that police are guarding only certain properties and could be involved in some of the destruction. “We are praying that God will keep a hedge of protection around our church compound and the people seeking refuge there,” reported Gardner. “We are praying that God will make the place invisible to the mobs, or to anyone seeking to harm or do violence.”The Nakuru church was one of the first to respond to the needs of victims of the first wave of violence, giving sacrificially to the needy temporarily housed by the government at a nearby fair grounds. Now, they are the ones in desperate need, having given all they had to assist others. Some have lost their homes and everything they had, except what they were able to carry with them to seek refuge at the church.“We fear for their lives, since many of them are of tribes that are being sought out and killed,” Gardner added. “As international news services have shown, the mobs are burning and destroying everything, including churches, especially those housing target tribes. We are trying to get food-aid to our people. The problem is funds. Food can easily be purchased at the Nakuru cereals board, and transportation can be hired, including armed police to accompany the transport. We are going to do what we can for these people, while trying not to draw too much attention to them.” Persons and churches wishing to make a donation can do so online at ncm.org or mark their checks “Kenya Unrest ACM1199” and mail them to the General Treasurer, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. For further information on donations, visit the Helping Hands Africa/NCM website at http://www.helpinghandsafrica.com/ and click on “How You Can Help!”

--Don Gardner for NCN News-Africa