MSAFARA II October 2008

A Project By

NAIROBI CHAPEL

In Partnership With The

AMERICAN BIBLE SCOCIETY

Report by:

Steve G. Mbuthia.

ENDEAVOURlogistics . consultants . outsourcing

O: (+254) 020 350 70 31

M: (+254) 0724 840 228

steveg@endeavour.co.ke

P. O. box 6402-00100 G.P.O

Nairobi, Kenya.

www.endeavour.co.ke

Military Truck relocating IDPs from Nakuru Show Ground.

It is Ten months since the post election violence that hit our country at the beginning of this year.

Seven months since I was part of the ‘MSAFARA Wheels of Hope’, a prayer team that went to

different parts of the country hit by the violence while visiting

different IDP camps distributing food and care packs for the

displaced. And about Five months since the Government

declared that all IDP Camps should shut down in what was

called ‘Operation Rudi Nyumbani’

I had the opportunity to visit Nakuru and Eldoret in October and

assess how the IDP’s are adjusting to life since the Camp’s

closed down. This was on behalf of a food distribution program that was planned by the Nairobi

Chapel in partnership with the American Bible Society. This is my story from this trip.

Nakuru Showground: Camp B March 2008

I was called in initially to make a trip to Nakuru and Eldoret and make an assessment of the camps

identified and ascertain their numbers. Four key centres had been identified for distribution. These

were Nakuru Show Ground and Rironi both in Nakuru and Burnt

Forest and Munyaka which are in Eldoret. For those who had

relocated back to their homes during the ‘Operation Rudi

Nyumbani’ I was to try and identify where they had moved to

and their current status. I found out that most of those who had

‘gone back home’ were now living in satellite camps that were

located near various police posts that had been set up by the

government. Very few had actually moved back onto their farms

and even fewer had started any form of farming on their land.

With this information, we were then able to plan for the distribution of food, seeds and fertilizers to

the different Camps. Though all camps identified were to get food, the seeds and fertilizer was to go

primarily to the families that had moved back to their farms as a means to help them get back on their

feet economically.

The Camps:

Nakuru:

The IDP’s at the Nakuru Show ground were estimated to be just

over 3,000 families. Before I left for Nakuru, we had a meeting

with the Camp chairman who informed us that a majority of

those at the Camp were moving out to Nyandarua, about 25Kms

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT.

Nakuru Showground: Camp B October 2008

2

from GilGil town. These families had put together the Ksh 10,000 that the Government had given

each to help in setting up their new lives, and had invested in the

purchase of a 50 acre parcel of land. This meant that the initial

plan of two sites in Nakuru had to change to accommodate the

relocation of these families.

At the Nakuru Show ground, I met with the new chairman, Mr

Paul Thiongo of the families that had been left behind. The

families here were now about 700 in number and Paul informed

me that they were also about to relocate and were waiting on the go

their move. Unlike the team that had left for Nyandarua who mainly

the showground had been business owners. With this in mind, Paul s

the money from the government and bought land in Pipeline, just

600 families were moving to, and the other families were to move

Nakuru - Eldoret highway. This move was however to be after

we had passed by to do the distribution.

At Rironi, a few Kilometres before the ‘Total’ Junction at the

Kericho – Kisumu turn off, were 346 families. Most of these

families had moved back to live near their farms from IDP

camps in Nakuru and Limuru in June and were trying to get back

to a lifestyle close to what they were used to before the violence

this year. Some had planted some crops in the last season which w

townships in the area which were their main markets have not reco

have nowhere to sell their produce.

Eldoret:

There were to be two centres of distribution in Eldoret, Burnt

Forest and Munyaka. At Burnt Forest, which had some of the

worst cases of violence during the skirmishes, I found out that

the main IDP camp that was at the town centre had closed down

and all the IDP’s moved to satellite camps in different parts of

the area. As a result, there were 23 camps of varied sizes from

Kamuyu Camp with 2,100 families, Rurigi with 1,980 families

to Beseria with 80 families and Squatter Camp with 52 families

families in the area. I met Pastors Kasii and Peter Gitau with who

some of the camps and meet with the people. At Bindura and Kam

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT.

Nyandarua Camp: More apace for each family

vernment to provide transport for

had been farmers, the families at

aid that they had also put together

outside Nakuru town, where over

to a parcel at Ngata Farm on the

At Rironi: a family rests outside their home

ere ready for harvesting, but the

vered from the violence thus they

At Bindura – Burnt Forest Rebuilding of homes yet to start

. In total, there are over 10,000

m I drove around the area to visit

uyu camps, which are on top of a

3

hill, I was shown the vast area that was the farms of those in the camps. In most of the farms as far as

I could see, there was no crop, but bush and thickets from a whole year of ‘neglect’.

Homes at Kondoo Centre

The second centre of Munyaka is past Eldoret town. This is also

a satellite camp with most being returnees from as far as Limuru

and Karura in Nairobi. There are about 200 families at Munyaka.

Unlike the other camps, Munyaka has a ‘special’ relationship

with the Nairobi Chapel. At the beginning of the year when most

of these families had been displaced, a number ended up at the

Karura Community Chapel, a sister church to Nairobi Chapel,

and in different camps in Nairobi. Some of the families had

children who were to be in Standard Eight and should have been preparing to register for their exams.

Nairobi Chapel sponsored 73 of these students from the different camps at Kimuri Primary School in

Kikuyu where they are to sit for their exams mid November. Most of their parents went back home

and are at the Munyaka Camp.

The planning committee got information about two camps in

Mai Mahiu of IDPs that had relocated from Naivasha having

bought land together. It was recommended that we also make a

stop over on the way back to Nairobi with some rations for the

camps.

Nyandarua: Food Distribution

The Distribution:

One of the critical questions that the Nairobi Chapel planning committee organising for the

distribution wanted answered from the advance trip was how was the distribution of food and seeds to

be managed on the ground. I found out that in all the camps, there existed an administrative system

that arranged for such distribution. Most of these committees had been established over the months to

bring some order to the camps. The system in place was not always perfect, and there were some

incidences where the IDPs complained about unfair distribution

of food in the past.

Food Trucks at Kamuyu Camp

In the Nyandarua and Nakuru Show ground camps, they had

organised themselves into ‘clusters’ each with about 52 tents.

Each cluster had a head that was called upon to receive rations

for the cluster based on the numbers of families and individuals

in the cluster. It was interesting to note that some of the clusters

were based on where the families came from, thus grouping IDPs from one area together.

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT. 4

At Rironi and Burnt forest, the food distribution was handled by the committee who had a list of all

the tents and families. To ensure fair distribution, we asked that each family sign for the rations

received and the final listing made available to the planning committee at Nairobi.

The Distribution List included: - 170 tonnes of Food and 7 tonnes of seeds

• Food: Maize, Beans, Cooking Oil, Maize meal, and Unimix flour.

• Seeds: Carrots, Onions, Cowpeas, Cabbages, Tomatoes, Spinach, Kales and

Hybrid Maize.

These were to be distributed to over 60,000 people in four key areas and in Mai Mahiu:

• Nyandarua 2,900 Families • Burnt Forest 10,000 Families

• Nakuru 700 Families • Munyaka 200 Families

• Mai Mahiu 200 Families

Their stories:

In all the different camps that we visited there were many issues

and stories that we heard from the IDPs. Stories about their

challenges, their pain, their hopes and their dreams.

Nyandarua: A fresh start?

Nyandarua: The next generation!

In Nyandarua, the IDPs had just move in the previous week and

they were still settling in with toilets and bathrooms still being constructed. With all the chaos that

went into adjusting to a new place, there was an atmosphere of hope and excitement all around. On

day we got their with the food rations, they were also expecting the Minister for Special Programs Ms

Naomi Shaban, but from talking to some the excitement was due to much more than the arrival of

dignitaries. Though still living in the same tents as they had in Nakuru, they were finally ‘home’. I

talked to some ladies who were preparing lunch, and mentioned that since they owned the land, the

tern ‘IDP’ no longer applied to them and they all agreed saying

that they will need to change their own definition of themselves.

This was the same feeling across the camp.

Coming from living in cramped quarters at the show ground to

50 acres, the one thing they appreciated was the space they now

had. They have a dam and a river flowing though the land, a

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT. 5

Rironi Shopping Centre: March 2008

constant supply of water to use for domestic use and irrigation. For 2,900 families and over 13,000

people, 50 acres is not enough for all to have a piece of land to farm. Most of the people we talked to

were just glad to have a small piece to live on and call their own after months in the camp. They hope

to put together some more money from the Ksh 25,000 per

family the government is yet to give them and with this purchase

about 100 acres more, giving each family enough land to build

on and grow some food.

At Nakuru, the planned move to Pipeline had also got the camp

in a happy mood. They were also about to take the first step in

getting their lives back and stop depending on handouts.

Rironi Shopping Centre:

October 2008

The feeling of excitement that was felt in Nyandarua and Nakuru was however not there in Rironi and

Burnt Forest. The IDPs in these two camps had also returned to their land and had the opportunity to

start again. It was while walking around the area that I got to

understand the difference in moods. Unlike Nyandarua and

Nakuru where the IDPs were having a fresh start in e new place,

in Rironi and Burnt Forest they had gone back home! Back to

where the run away from, to their land and homes that had been

destroyed. For most, back to the place they watched their family

members killed and their dreams and hopes burnt to ashes. For

these, the road to getting back on their feet was evidently longer

than what I expected from the news we had received on

‘Operation Rudi Nyumbani’

At Burnt forest, I was told that there have been many who have died in the period after the

repatriation due to depression and stress. These are mostly the elderly who had to watch their efforts

of years lost and escaped with only the clothes on their backs. Many men who lost all their lives work

and with it their identity and self worth. Falling sick with no access to healthcare especially for the

young was stressing most of the mothers.

Kamuyu Primary School

What were once classrooms!

I asked some of the families if the Ksh 25,000 that the

government had promised for housing would be enough to start

up. Most said that they lost homes worth a lot more than the

money due to them. One of the pastors asked me to look around

at the children in the camp. He explained that most did not have

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT. 6

shoes, warm clothes and had not had a descent meal in along time. The young girls did not have

enough sanitary towels for their periods and not enough water to have regular showers. He explained

that with these among many other issues they faced, the 25,000,

if they ever received it would have too many needs waiting for

housing to be critical.

Kamuyu Primary School

What is now used for classrooms!

I was told of about 13 churches that were burnt down, and was

shown an AIPCA church that had its roof, windows and doors

taken and a PCEA church that was reduced to rubbles. I was

also taken to a primary and secondary school at Kamuyu that

was destroyed. The children at the Kamuyu camp are now using UN tents for classrooms. We asked

about any efforts being done to reconcile the communities and other than in Rironi, there was not

much effort in burnt forest. We were told of skirmishes after each election since 1992 and the older

generation remembers of fighting in 1968 and in all these cases, the cause was always the same issues

concerning land. The pastor was asked that since reconciliation effort over the last had evidently not

worked, what they were hoping to do differently this time and why they have not moved away. He

explained that this was home for them. He was born there and all he had was there! For those who had

returned, they had no plans of giving up their homes.

Reconciliation, once the pain and bitterness was their only hope.

At Rironi, where there is an active effort to reconcile the

communities, with an NGO offering work teams from the

community around payment to help till the land for both

communities. The teams are mainly of the young men and this is

giving them an opportunity to break the ice and start the process

towards peace building.

AIPCA Church: one of the 13

churches destroyed!

The issues and needs:

Having listened to many stories and talked to many more, it is difficult to cover the needs that still

face the IDPs.

• Basic Foodstuff: In most of the camps there was excitement about what we had taken for them.

- At Nakuru Show ground, while announcing what we had delivered an error was made and instead

of Maize Meal Flour, it was announced as Wheat Flour. There was immediate celebration from

the women and children. The error was rectified and later when I asked some women why they

were so excited they said that most of them had not made ‘Chapati’s’ since January. The thought

of a bag of wheat flour for this was worth the celebration.

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT. 7

- At Rironi, one of the fathers was happy about the Unimix. He said the flour had salt in it and they

would use this in their food. Salt is a rare commodity in the camps. White Maize meal for also a

welcome item on the list.

• Sanitary Towels: In all the camps we visited, this was one item that was asked for. This is clearly

one of the main non food items for most camps. With the need for sanitary towels is other hygiene

products including ladies under ware, soap,

• Shelter: Having lived in the tents for the last ten months, most are dilapidated and leak when it

rains. The cramped living conditions have also lead to family tensions with two families sharing a

tent in some cases, matters of family privacy is all but lost. Some families are building a frame of

wood from trees they have cut down and using the tent as a roof and other available materials for

the walls.

• Schools and Vocational Training: One of the most disheartening things to see in some camps was

the number of children and youth that were had nothing to keep them occupied. The few schools

in place have little in terms of learning materials, desks and teaching aids in place. Issues with the

youth being idle for many months are evident in some of the camps. There is a heavy cloud of

hopelessness in the eyes of some of the young men and women.

• Bibles: this was asked for in many camps by the women. They also requested for song books and

other reading materials.

• Peace and Reconciliation: There was a clear need for some effort to get the communities in burnt

forest to sit down and start the peace process. One could feel the tension, pain and bitterness being

harboured especially by the youth. This process needs to be properly managed to get the

community working together again.

• Farming Tools: Whereas the donation of fertilizer and seeds was well received, most f the families

do not have adequate farm implements to get their farms ready for planting.

• Health care: Access to basic healthcare is a primary concern for many, especially the mothers and

children. in cases where they had access to some health facility, the resources required to meet the

cost of the medicines was a challenge since their main form of income – agriculture, was yet to be

revived.

• Water: Clean water is a challenge in all the camps. Nyandarua Camp is the best placed with a river

and Dam in their land, but access to clean drinking water is still an issue. With firewood being an

expensive and rare resource, it is difficult to ask the IDPs to boil the water.

• Environmental issues: In most of the camps, trees are being cut down for fuel and building

materials. At Mai Mahiu, there is a camp with only one tree which the mothers use for shade. With

the numbers in the camps, there will be few or no trees in most places. There is thus an urgent need

to get tree seedlings planted for the sake of the coming years.

ENDEAVOUR: MSAFARA II REPORT. 8