Talbert, Alison - Kenya
Prayer Update March 2008
“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
- Psalm 11:3
There’s a Chinese curse that goes “May you live in interesting times” February has certainly been an interesting month here in Kenya. Now that there is a peace deal with power sharing between the 2 main parties there is an air of cautious optimism. Parliament reconvenes this week so all eyes will be on the politicians to see if they can work together to restore stability to the country.
Only last week one of my colleagues Charles Chesaro was nearly killed as he was driving upcountry to visit his uncle who was due to have a major operation. Chesaro, as he is generally known, is a clinical officer (a post like a junior doctor) working in the neonatal nursery. He is a lovely friendly man, tall with a military bearing; his father was in the army. He is married to Faith who works in the staff clinic and they have 2 young children. He tells that he was driving from Nairobi to Nakuru when he saw several people standing by the side of the road and he felt a chill run down his spine. As he rounded the next corner he saw rocks blocking the road and a group of about a hundred youths waving machetes and telling him to stop. He realized they were from the Kikuyu tribe and would attack him if they knew he was Kalenjin.
There was no time to turn round and some of the youths were gesturing that they would cut his throat and started moving towards him. He decided he would swerve off the road, try to drive on and if he hit anyone he would have to do that in order to get away. The youths threw stones at the car. He managed to get back onto the road again after the road block without any stones hitting him. People scattered out of his way. Feeling shaken he continued driving only to find the road ahead completely blocked by a large lorry parked across it and more threatening armed youths who were whistling, chanting and waving machetes in the air. This time he couldn’t go round. Just then a police truck carrying GSU riot squad officers came and rescued him.
He says “ I saw death coming at me but God rescued me” If the police hadn’t arrived at that moment he would certainly have been beheaded. He is one very thankful young man. On the way home from seeing his uncle he returned in an armed convoy. He reports that 20,000 people are camping in Nakuru showground and the streets are not safe at night. Even though there is no curfew, people do not go out after 6 pm. Groups of young men of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes are being armed in preparation for war against each other. Will they stand down now that the politicians have agreed to form a coalition government?
In Kilifi there has been no tribal violence but organized groups of squatters have invaded land which they claim was illegally grabbed at Independence. Their disputes are being negotiated with the Provincial Commissioner. Maybe they chose this time to make their protest as there has been a breakdown in law and order.
Enough of the drama. Daily work continues on the wards. The endotoxin study has already recruited 24 patients out of its target 175. The lab technologists are doing the test well and a new intern Harry started in February to help with the study. This is all very exciting for me after a long wait for ethical approval.
I thank God that:
· The 2 main political leaders President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister- elect Raila Odinga have agreed to work together
· Chesaro was rescued unharmed in the nick of time
· The endotoxin study got off to a brisk start
Please pray for:
· Real commitment of all politicians to work together to restore government to the country
· An end to intertribal violence
· Resettlement and compensation to displaced people
· Leadership by the Kenyan church and its people in the healing and reconciliation process
· Smooth running of the ongoing endotoxin study and preparations for the new moderate malnutrition study
· Funding for my personal support to be made available sooner rather than later
With love in Christ,
Alison
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