NOTE - Here's an update from Joe Peterson, the former Demon assistant basketball coach from 1999-2001 who is a missionary teacher in Kenya, where civil unrest has resulted in widespread violence after a disputed presidential election. He keeps many of his NSU friends in an e-mail loop with monthly updates on his experiences. If you need some background on Joe and his mission, visit the Demon Dust archives and read the April 4, 2004 column by Doug Ireland titled "Jumpin' Joe is on a mission of the most profound kind." Now, here's the latest from our man in Kenya:
"Thank you so much for all of your encouraging e-mails. More so, thank you for your many prayers for the school, our staff and students and for the country of Kenya. This country has long been recognized as the most peaceful and stable country in East Africa and one of the best on the continent so the recent troubles are really disconcerting.
Things are OK here in Mbita, Kenya. Immediately after the election results and swearing in of the incumbent President, major violence broke out all over Kenya. The police and military used force to try and stop the rioting. In Mbita there were protests, but most retreated quickly to their houses after the police began firing their guns. Some managed to burn and destroy small kiosks locally owned by people of different tribes. Luckily there were no deaths and only minor injuries sustained. As far as we know all of the CGA staff, students and their families are safe right now. Our orphan overseer, Lillian Ombori, had to house a few families from other tribes that were fearing for their lives last night. They were taken into protective custody by the police this morning.
In the bigger cities, the stakes were much higher. Over 120 people have died throughout the country in the past day, including 43 in Kisumu. Things have died down in most places throughout the country now, but riots continue to persist in the slums of the bigger cities where many impoverished people from various tribes live very closely to one another. Much of the violence is based on tribal lines or against the police force.
We are hoping that peace can be restored very quickly. Currently, the transportation around Kenya is totally paralyzed. No vehicles (public or private) are traveling anywhere because of the violence and road blocks set up by locals. This can be very difficult for rural areas like Mbita. The citizens are already starting to feel it. It is difficult to get basic necessities such as bread, flour, cards for cell phone credit, etc. It is not so serious now, but could develop into a major problem soon if things are not settled quickly. Luckily, in Mbita, we live on a lake and will always have fish to eat at the very least. Other areas are not as fortunate as us.
Things seem to be quieting down across the country and we pray that things will return to normal soon, though the political situation may not be settled for a while.
The European Union, U.S. and U.K. have all come out strongly against the transparency of the election. Observers were not allowed to watch the counting or tallying process in many areas. Others observed one set of results being read at the constituency level and then another being announced by the electoral commission. There are many red flags. It is hard to say who would have won if the election was fair, but I don't know if we will ever know the answer to that one. Four members of the electoral commission have come out and said there were many irregularities and are asking for a fresh inquiry.
Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, has urged his supporters to maintain peace. He has also called for a million people rally in Nairobi on January 3rd. That will be a very volatile situation. They have talked about setting up a parallel government. Their claim is that Kibaki has the police and military, while they (ODM) have the people. The way the leaders handle this situation is critical for the country to remain peaceful.
The government side has also called for peace and says they are trying to reach out to the opposition. In an effort to stem incitement, they have also banned all live media broadcasts which has infuriated many within Kenya and others outside the country.
Thank you for your prayers.
JOe Peterson"
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