Over the period immediately after the (disputed) Kenyan elections at the beginning of January we received almost daily emails from Colin & Anita Smith, our Link Mission Partners in Nairobi, and the following is largely excerpts to give you a flavour of what went on as they saw it, and to indicate the involvement of the Churches.

Just before Christmas, Colin had emailed about some money that we had sent out earlier last year, saying: "I can confirm that the money reached St Jerome [their church in Kibera] some time back. Richard put half into the homework club...  The other half went to St Phillips [another church] for iron sheets to extend the church."

Then there was the Election crisis, and they first reported: "There has been a widespread feeling that the presidential election was rigged...  The run up to the election saw an opening up of historic divisions between tribes, particularly the two largest tribes the Kikuyu, represented by Mwai Kibaki [the President] and the Luo which Raila Odinga [the Opposition Leader] belongs to...  The worst hit areas are on the Western side of Kenya but there has also been widespread violence and looting in Nairobi, particularly focussed on the slums. Kibera was in flames on Sunday night with homes and businesses of Kikuyus being burnt and destroyed. Kikuyus and those living in Kukiyu owned property have had to flee for their lives, often smuggled out of Kibera by sympathetic Luo neighbours. Luo members of the congregation at St Jerome have been assisting Kikuyus to get out, taking risks themselves in the process."

The Smiths have two daughters with them, and reported that "As a family we are fine. On Monday our household increased as some of those who had to flee Kibera are now living with us. Richard Mayabi (the local vicar) and his family plus some students are staying with us. We are a household of 11 at the moment...  Supplies of basic commodities are running low in the city as people move from shop to shop in search of basic commodities and prices are soaring...  Many live on daily wages and have not been able to earn anything for over a week so their situation is becoming desperate...  All of this happens with a tremendous amount of patience and good grace which seems to typify Kenya much more than the violence in some parts of the city."

Part of Colin & Anita's work is in Kibera, an enormous slum, and "In Kibera those unable to get past the police cordon have wreaked further havoc. The AIC, Lutheran and Presbyterian Church have all been destroyed by fire along with many businesses. Youths again broke into the Centre [St. Jerome] and this time removed or destroyed all the property belonging to Mama Joy, one of our staff, on the basis that she is a Kikuyu. The rest of the Centre was not touched...  John who has been guarding the centre has also had to leave after being (rightly) accused of assisting Kikuyus. Young people from the church are currently sleeping in the church and Centre in the hope that both can be protected from looting. The situation has moved from frustration at political grievances to indiscriminate looting by opportunist and disaffected youths."

Amidst all this, they reported that "Our home has remained safe. We heard occasional shooting, but not closer than 100 yards and people have been relaxing in the garden for most of the day in glorious sunshine...  The girls went to stay with friends last night in a slightly more secure area of Nairobi and we collected them this afternoon. They had enjoyed a diet of pasta and ice cream and were somewhat less enthusiastic about returning home where the household cuisine has had to fit the influx of visitors!"

"On the political level there seems to be little movement... [But] Desmond Tutu [retired Archbishop of Cape Town] is attempting to broker an agreement which would de-escalate and end the conflict...  his efforts do not appear to have had much impact as yet. The Church has spoken out to some degree but perhaps not as decisively as some might wish."  Later they reported that "Desmond Tutu seems to have made some definite progress on the diplomatic front. He is a quite extraordinary man."