Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides)- Cautious hope was felt in Kenya after the meeting on 29 January between the president Mwai Kibaki and Opposition leader Raila Odinga, in the presence of former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, charged with mediating the crisis which exploded following elections on 27 December. Annan said he was convinced political problems could be solved in four weeks but that it will take at least a year to overcome the crisis. The two leaders confirmed their intention to work together to promote peace and find solutions to the country's problems. In his intervention President Kibaki, firmly condemned the acts of violence calling for national unity and reconciliation: “We all have the same homeland, Kenya. We should respect the sacredness of human lives, every person must be allowed to live and work anywhere in the country. Leaders must go to their own regions and announce this message ”.
“The two leaders reportedly expressed the intention to end the spiral of violence which is devastating the country, but this intention must lead to concrete actions on the roads of Kenya. I wonder if those who kindled the fire of ethnic and tribal hatred are still in a position to control and extinguish it” a local Church source told Fides.
“Unless the gangs which plunder, kill and rape are brought under control, the atmosphere of hatred and violence will continue and take deep root in the hearts of the people” the source told Fides. “What we see is not very encouraging. Ethnic cleansing continues. In the town of Kikuyo 21km from Nairobi, on the Naivasha road, gangs of youths were stopping people searching for members of the rival tribe. Thank goodness the police intervened and dispersed them but this was a worrying sign. Kikuyo, which takes its name from the tribe of the President, is a residential suburb and many people who work in central Nairobi live there. The area as a university research centre and other important institutions. So it is not a slum where there is an explosive mixture of poverty and tribalism. In the slums the situation is worse than in other parts of the capital. Not even basic services are guaranteed. In Kibera for example, buses do not stop because the stops are controlled by gangs which extort money from drivers and passengers ”.
“In this situation of chaos we are wondering if the army will be brought in. So far the police and paramilitary troops have dealt with the violence. Soldiers were only used as reinforcement in Nakuru and Naivasha, in Rift Valley, where army helicopters released tea gas to disperse criminal gangs which were terrorising the people, but they did not open fire on the crowds as it was reported at first” the source told Fides.
In the meantime in Nakuru, where Fr Michael Kamau Ithondeka, vice rector of Mathias Mulumba Seminary was killed (see Fides 28/1/2008), a decision was taken to evacuate 10 parishes to guarantee safety of religious and lay church personnel. The funeral of the Catholic priest will be held on Friday 1 February. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 30/1/2008 righe 39 parole 531)
