It is official for the second time around. President Uhuru Kenyatta has been reelected with 98.2% of the vote of 38.8% (compared to 79.8% last time) of registered voters.
Mombasa is quiet including Bangladesh, which had violence during the polling.
The US Embassy has sent a message that they are limiting services, cancelling routine services and dismissing nonessential personnel indefinitely. They're afraid of violence.
Tomorrow the opposition party will announce their way forward. More uncertainty!
I heard a BBC report today about an elderly Luo man who was hacked to death by Kalenjin warriors. He worked on a sugar plantation and when the Kalenjin attacked he couldn't run fast enough to get away. The reporter saw his mutilated body and then walked over the ridge to meet about 100 Kalenjin warriors with spears and arrows with poison tips. He asked them why they killed the man. They said because the Luos prevented them from voting and they wanted to vote. But there is the issue of land and cattle that may have also been a reason. The Luos are the tribe of the opposition party and the Kalenjin are the tribe of the deputy vice president. The Kalenjin are reputed to be the best warriors in the country.
On a very sad note, Bishop Korir died this morning. He was also a Kalenjin and Bishop of Eldoret. During the post-election violence in 2008 he opened his cathedral compound to 10,000 people fleeing the kind of violence that happened above. At that time, the Kalenjin and the Kikuyus were killing each other. He was a man who tried to follow Jesus and I feel very sad that he is no longer with us. He will be known as the peacemaking Bishop and will be greatly missed. May he rest in the peace of Christ.
Monday, 30 October 2017
Saturday, 28 October 2017
28 October 2018
Mombasa was quiet all day today. The US Embassy sent a message tonight that there are violent gangs in Kawangware Nairobi. No more word from the IEBC regarding the rerun of the election.
Friday, 27 October 2017
27 October 2017
A flawed election begets a controversial rerun begets a colossal sham...Maina Kiai
Mombasa remains quiet and I was able to go to the bank today. Businesses were open but fewer people were out and about.
So far it looks like 33% of registered voters have voted (compared to 79% in the first polling) and 98% voted for the President. The rerun which was to be held tomorrow in Kisumu area has been postponed due to insecurity for the polling officials. The rerun has to be completed by Oct 31st and the result has to be announced by Nov 2nd.
Is anyone clean in this process? I can see big problems on both sides. Can they follow the rule of law and the constitution to avoid what happened in 2008?
Mombasa remains quiet and I was able to go to the bank today. Businesses were open but fewer people were out and about.
So far it looks like 33% of registered voters have voted (compared to 79% in the first polling) and 98% voted for the President. The rerun which was to be held tomorrow in Kisumu area has been postponed due to insecurity for the polling officials. The rerun has to be completed by Oct 31st and the result has to be announced by Nov 2nd.
Is anyone clean in this process? I can see big problems on both sides. Can they follow the rule of law and the constitution to avoid what happened in 2008?
Thursday, 26 October 2017
26 October 2017
It has been a quiet day in Mombasa for the rerun of the presidential elections. I got up at to go to Mass at 6:15am. It was my only choice. For those of you who know I am not a morning person, this tells you something about my concern for the day.
All the businesses downtown were closed and the streets were pretty empty. There were problems at Bangladesh where we have a dispensary in St. Patrick parish. Our clinical officer (physician assistant) slept there last night and stayed until 1pm. He did not see any patient with injury related to the voting process. He told me that the residents of the area had spread human excrement in the school which was to be the polling station and they were burning tires outside. The police brought the items for polling to the main road but were prevented from entering. Fr. Gabriel Dolan, a St. Patrick Missionary who works with the legal program in the parish, was able to calm down the residents and get the police to take the polling materials away. Apparently, the police set up a 'polling station' under a tree nearby and a few people voted. Unless all polling stations can be set up the credibility of the election will be nullified.
There was violence in Nairobi and Kisumu. There are four places in Kisumu area where they could not set up polling stations and they will try again on Saturday. The IEBC has one week to announce the results.
Some people want to think that now that the rerun has been performed they can announce that the President has been reelected and move on with their lives. The President himself has said that Kenya needs to move on. However, the opposition has announced that they are forming a resistance movement. This election will surly be contested in the court and it hardly looks credible to me. There are numerous deep seated problems that will not go away. Using the Constitution and the rule of law to govern procedures is a new path for this country. There is a long hard road ahead for all of us who live here.
All the businesses downtown were closed and the streets were pretty empty. There were problems at Bangladesh where we have a dispensary in St. Patrick parish. Our clinical officer (physician assistant) slept there last night and stayed until 1pm. He did not see any patient with injury related to the voting process. He told me that the residents of the area had spread human excrement in the school which was to be the polling station and they were burning tires outside. The police brought the items for polling to the main road but were prevented from entering. Fr. Gabriel Dolan, a St. Patrick Missionary who works with the legal program in the parish, was able to calm down the residents and get the police to take the polling materials away. Apparently, the police set up a 'polling station' under a tree nearby and a few people voted. Unless all polling stations can be set up the credibility of the election will be nullified.
There was violence in Nairobi and Kisumu. There are four places in Kisumu area where they could not set up polling stations and they will try again on Saturday. The IEBC has one week to announce the results.
Some people want to think that now that the rerun has been performed they can announce that the President has been reelected and move on with their lives. The President himself has said that Kenya needs to move on. However, the opposition has announced that they are forming a resistance movement. This election will surly be contested in the court and it hardly looks credible to me. There are numerous deep seated problems that will not go away. Using the Constitution and the rule of law to govern procedures is a new path for this country. There is a long hard road ahead for all of us who live here.
Wednesday, 25 October 2017
25 October 2017
I stayed with Coralis last night and this morning I got up early to walk on the beach near her flat. A young boy, maybe 9 years, came over, shook my hand and greeted me in English. He was a bit shy and I asked him about school and we looked at the rain on the horizon. He was from a nearby orphanage. Then he said goodbye with a smile and waved as he walked towards the man I had thought was his father, but must be a guardian. The man waved and smiled too.
I have remembered this little fellow all day long. Town was deserted and very quiet. I met the mother of a four year old boy with a rare skin disease to give her his medicine. We met up at the Cathedral and there was no one there. It is the first time I have ever seen the rectory completely closed up with no one present...not even the cook. It felt lonely.
The High Court ruled that all 290 returning officers were not legally appointed. The Supreme Court didn't have a quorum to rule on the petition to delay the rerun of the election because it won't be credible. Only two of the seven judges showed up. Two were sick, two were somewhere unknown and one claimed she couldn't get a flight back to Nairobi.
The opposition held a big rally in Nairobi and Raila told people to stay home and not vote. If everyone just stays home and refuses to participate there wouldn't be trouble. But already in Kisumu there are young people throwing stones and the police are throwing tear gas. Mombasa is quiet and there is no trouble or violence.
I was able to buy more food at the grocery store and fill up the car with fuel. People are weary and I feel concerned...not yet afraid. That little boy has had a difficult life if he is in an orphanage and he still has the courage to come up to someone he doesn't know and politely say hello. I hope that we adults can follow his example, at least myself, because there is going to be trouble ahead.
I have remembered this little fellow all day long. Town was deserted and very quiet. I met the mother of a four year old boy with a rare skin disease to give her his medicine. We met up at the Cathedral and there was no one there. It is the first time I have ever seen the rectory completely closed up with no one present...not even the cook. It felt lonely.
The High Court ruled that all 290 returning officers were not legally appointed. The Supreme Court didn't have a quorum to rule on the petition to delay the rerun of the election because it won't be credible. Only two of the seven judges showed up. Two were sick, two were somewhere unknown and one claimed she couldn't get a flight back to Nairobi.
The opposition held a big rally in Nairobi and Raila told people to stay home and not vote. If everyone just stays home and refuses to participate there wouldn't be trouble. But already in Kisumu there are young people throwing stones and the police are throwing tear gas. Mombasa is quiet and there is no trouble or violence.
I was able to buy more food at the grocery store and fill up the car with fuel. People are weary and I feel concerned...not yet afraid. That little boy has had a difficult life if he is in an orphanage and he still has the courage to come up to someone he doesn't know and politely say hello. I hope that we adults can follow his example, at least myself, because there is going to be trouble ahead.
Tuesday, 24 October 2017
24 October 2017
It is 10pm and I have changed my schedule tomorrow about five times. I had a good clinic today and taught about diabetes. For that I am grateful and felt useful. When I came to stay overnight with Coralis on north coast she told me that tomorrow is a holiday just announced by the President. So I called the clinic I have nearby tomorrow and found out that the clinic will be open but they don't have any patients scheduled for me. There is a woman coming from one hour away to get medicine for her four year old son with a rare skin disease so I arranged for her to meet me in town rather than come up to north coast to see me.
We've been watching the news and that is a merry go round. At 10am tomorrow the Chief Justice will hear an urgent petition by three citizens asking that the election be postponed because it cannot be free, fair, credible, transparent and accountable. Apparently the Chief Justice has decided to work on a holiday.
Meanwhile the driver of the deputy to the Chief Justice was shot in the shoulder at 7pm tonight while purchasing something for the deputy. His gun was stolen with 15 rounds of ammunition and he is in the hospital...alive. She was not with him. Remember, the man who was the IT expert for the IEBC was brutally murdered a week before the August elections. I keep asking who killed him and why?
Next the Chair of the IEBC has announced a deputy national returning officer, Consolata Maina, to conduct the election in his absence. The President has legislation on his desk from parliament ready for him to sign to grant the deputy national returning officer authority in the absence of the Chair.
The opposition has been holding campaign rallies during the 48 hours before the polls in defiance of the law. They will hold a rally in Uhuru park tomorrow at 2pm to announce what they will do on Thursday.
Tomorrow night Coralis, Heidi and I all plan to be at my house together while things unfold. I live across from a police station so it is relatively safe. We will try to carry on tomorrow to do something that is useful and meaningful, knowing full well that our plans will most likely change a few more times. Since it will be a holiday tomorrow I probably can't go to the bank or certain stores. I did fill up my vehicle this morning before I left and plan to fill up again tomorrow if I can. This is not fun at all.
It has been raining heavily the last two days and there have been big jams from Changamwe to Bangla but otherwise Mombasa has been quiet. I have not heard of any violence here today.
We've been watching the news and that is a merry go round. At 10am tomorrow the Chief Justice will hear an urgent petition by three citizens asking that the election be postponed because it cannot be free, fair, credible, transparent and accountable. Apparently the Chief Justice has decided to work on a holiday.
Meanwhile the driver of the deputy to the Chief Justice was shot in the shoulder at 7pm tonight while purchasing something for the deputy. His gun was stolen with 15 rounds of ammunition and he is in the hospital...alive. She was not with him. Remember, the man who was the IT expert for the IEBC was brutally murdered a week before the August elections. I keep asking who killed him and why?
Next the Chair of the IEBC has announced a deputy national returning officer, Consolata Maina, to conduct the election in his absence. The President has legislation on his desk from parliament ready for him to sign to grant the deputy national returning officer authority in the absence of the Chair.
The opposition has been holding campaign rallies during the 48 hours before the polls in defiance of the law. They will hold a rally in Uhuru park tomorrow at 2pm to announce what they will do on Thursday.
Tomorrow night Coralis, Heidi and I all plan to be at my house together while things unfold. I live across from a police station so it is relatively safe. We will try to carry on tomorrow to do something that is useful and meaningful, knowing full well that our plans will most likely change a few more times. Since it will be a holiday tomorrow I probably can't go to the bank or certain stores. I did fill up my vehicle this morning before I left and plan to fill up again tomorrow if I can. This is not fun at all.
It has been raining heavily the last two days and there have been big jams from Changamwe to Bangla but otherwise Mombasa has been quiet. I have not heard of any violence here today.
Monday, 23 October 2017
23 October 2017
Mombasa remains quiet and it rained all day. But tension is increasing. The US Embassy has sent out its usual precautions for anticipating violence...keep two weeks supply of food and drinking water, don't go out and be aware of your surroundings...etc. The BBC reported that 20 countries have warned Kenyan politicians not to incite violence. Yesterday the Pope mentioned Kenya in his Sunday Angelus prayer:
“I am paying close attention in these days to Kenya, which I visited in 2015, and for which I pray, that the whole country might be able to face the current difficulties in a climate of constructive dialogue, having at heart the search for the common good.”
Many people I've talked to will not vote. They are afraid, it's too expensive to travel to the polling station, they think it will be rigged again. So many of us remember 2008 and it brings a sick, foreboding feeling of what awful things are possible.
“I am paying close attention in these days to Kenya, which I visited in 2015, and for which I pray, that the whole country might be able to face the current difficulties in a climate of constructive dialogue, having at heart the search for the common good.”
Many people I've talked to will not vote. They are afraid, it's too expensive to travel to the polling station, they think it will be rigged again. So many of us remember 2008 and it brings a sick, foreboding feeling of what awful things are possible.
Sunday, 22 October 2017
Saturday, 21 October 2017
21 October 2017
"This country (Kenya) needs prayers. Prayers may not always change God but they can change us." Fr. Gabriel Dolan, SPS Catholic priest Mombasa
Yesterday was a public holiday to honor those brave women and men who have lived, and sometimes died, for Kenya...Mashujaa or Heros/Heroines. The CEO of the IEBC, Chiloba, is taking a three week leave. His resignation was demanded by the opposition. The President repeated that the elections will be held on the 26th and said his administration would not tolerate any interference.
The opposition says they will "promise a way forward" to his supporters on the 25th. Raila stated, "I can assure you we will conclude this matter in an amicable way." He also told his supporters not to attack innocent people, especially Kikuyus (the tribe of the president).
People are going home and making plans to lay low this coming week. No one knows what will happen. We have prepared for trouble but are hoping for something better.
Yesterday was a public holiday to honor those brave women and men who have lived, and sometimes died, for Kenya...Mashujaa or Heros/Heroines. The CEO of the IEBC, Chiloba, is taking a three week leave. His resignation was demanded by the opposition. The President repeated that the elections will be held on the 26th and said his administration would not tolerate any interference.
The opposition says they will "promise a way forward" to his supporters on the 25th. Raila stated, "I can assure you we will conclude this matter in an amicable way." He also told his supporters not to attack innocent people, especially Kikuyus (the tribe of the president).
People are going home and making plans to lay low this coming week. No one knows what will happen. We have prepared for trouble but are hoping for something better.
Thursday, 19 October 2017
20 October 2017
'Kenya is in Limbo' - Anne Soy, Kenyan BBC correspondant.
Yesterday the opposition met with the chairman of the IEBC. The President refused to meet. He says the rerun of the election has to occur on the 26th. The opposition advised the IEBC to postpone the elections to make adequate preparations. Things are still quiet in Mombasa and elsewhere.
Today I went to the funeral of Charity. She was only 50 and had worked as a cleaner at one of our dispensaries for 13 years. At age 12 she was married off to an old man and had four children. His family was Muslim so she became a Muslim. He left her to fend for herself and in order to feed her children she prostituted herself. That infected her with HIV. I saw her for vaginal bleeding and she had already been to the government hospital. They didn't do the procedures she needed and Charity wouldn't let me write in her book that she had HIV and was on treatment. She wouldn't let anyone know she had HIV except me and the Sister who ran the dispensary. I finally told her she needed to have her uterus out and after a lot of prodding she agreed. While I was home on leave she started to bleed again. She went to a nearby hospital because the government is still striking. They found she had metastatic cancer and ran up a hospital bill of $4000. Then they referred her to a more expensive hospital that wanted to do chemotherapy. When I got back the Sister asked my advice. She was in terrible pain and not even taking a simple pain killer. I called the hospice, which is the only place we can get morphine. I talked to the nurse and he agreed to give the morphine to the Sister because Charity was too sick to cross the ferry and come herself. With morphine the last week of her life was pain free.
She told the Sister that she had officially divorced her husband so she shouldn't let her be buried in his home. They wanted her body. Her father couldn't bury her in his home unless he returned the money that they paid for her dowry when he sold her off to them. She had been baptized and was an active member of the parish. The Christians and my mission account helped to pay the hospital bill and pay off the in-laws so she could be buried in her father's home.
Charity died of stigma and fear...not cancer. And she was treated like property until the last days of her painful illness. I took the time to cross the ferry to attend her funeral thinking no one would be there. I found the church almost full of people who cared for her. She is not in limbo but heaven for sure!
Yesterday the opposition met with the chairman of the IEBC. The President refused to meet. He says the rerun of the election has to occur on the 26th. The opposition advised the IEBC to postpone the elections to make adequate preparations. Things are still quiet in Mombasa and elsewhere.
Today I went to the funeral of Charity. She was only 50 and had worked as a cleaner at one of our dispensaries for 13 years. At age 12 she was married off to an old man and had four children. His family was Muslim so she became a Muslim. He left her to fend for herself and in order to feed her children she prostituted herself. That infected her with HIV. I saw her for vaginal bleeding and she had already been to the government hospital. They didn't do the procedures she needed and Charity wouldn't let me write in her book that she had HIV and was on treatment. She wouldn't let anyone know she had HIV except me and the Sister who ran the dispensary. I finally told her she needed to have her uterus out and after a lot of prodding she agreed. While I was home on leave she started to bleed again. She went to a nearby hospital because the government is still striking. They found she had metastatic cancer and ran up a hospital bill of $4000. Then they referred her to a more expensive hospital that wanted to do chemotherapy. When I got back the Sister asked my advice. She was in terrible pain and not even taking a simple pain killer. I called the hospice, which is the only place we can get morphine. I talked to the nurse and he agreed to give the morphine to the Sister because Charity was too sick to cross the ferry and come herself. With morphine the last week of her life was pain free.
She told the Sister that she had officially divorced her husband so she shouldn't let her be buried in his home. They wanted her body. Her father couldn't bury her in his home unless he returned the money that they paid for her dowry when he sold her off to them. She had been baptized and was an active member of the parish. The Christians and my mission account helped to pay the hospital bill and pay off the in-laws so she could be buried in her father's home.
Charity died of stigma and fear...not cancer. And she was treated like property until the last days of her painful illness. I took the time to cross the ferry to attend her funeral thinking no one would be there. I found the church almost full of people who cared for her. She is not in limbo but heaven for sure!
19 October 2017
"We are in a real mess. I don't know how we are going to get out of it." Dickson Alowe, Kenyan lawyer interviewed by BBC this morning.
Yesterday, after Dr. Akombe resigned from the IEBC, the Chairman of the IEBC held a press conference and stated that he couldn't ensure that the election to be held next Thursday would be free, fair and credible.
Mombasa was quiet and as far as I know the whole country was quiet with no violence yesterday. I feel more relaxed and less concerned about violence. I don't see how they can go ahead with the elections next Thursday with what has happened. That would suit the opposition and decrease the chance for violence. I know that the government is determined to hold the election next Thursday. I know that many Kenyans are tired and just want this all to be over.
The constitution says that the current president presides until he is confirmed in another election or someone else is elected. But the lawyer above said that some lawyers are saying that the current term of the president ends on October 30th and if there is no election the Speaker of the House becomes the acting president for 90 days until another election is held and a president is elected.
Democracy is messy when it is messed up by corruption, dishonesty and greed.
I still ask the question...who brutally murdered Chris Msando???
Yesterday, after Dr. Akombe resigned from the IEBC, the Chairman of the IEBC held a press conference and stated that he couldn't ensure that the election to be held next Thursday would be free, fair and credible.
Mombasa was quiet and as far as I know the whole country was quiet with no violence yesterday. I feel more relaxed and less concerned about violence. I don't see how they can go ahead with the elections next Thursday with what has happened. That would suit the opposition and decrease the chance for violence. I know that the government is determined to hold the election next Thursday. I know that many Kenyans are tired and just want this all to be over.
The constitution says that the current president presides until he is confirmed in another election or someone else is elected. But the lawyer above said that some lawyers are saying that the current term of the president ends on October 30th and if there is no election the Speaker of the House becomes the acting president for 90 days until another election is held and a president is elected.
Democracy is messy when it is messed up by corruption, dishonesty and greed.
I still ask the question...who brutally murdered Chris Msando???
Wednesday, 18 October 2017
18 October 2017
I awoke at 5am to an interview on the BBC with Roselyne Akombe, an IEBC commisioner who has fled to NY. She says that there cannot be credible elections on the 26th and she has resigned from the commission. She fears for her life and for the safety of her family. Her brother fled Kenya in September.
Who killed Chris Msando? That will shed a lot of light on the crisis in this country.
I'm going to work today at Likoni dispensary, hoping to do something useful for sick people who have no government health services.
Who killed Chris Msando? That will shed a lot of light on the crisis in this country.
I'm going to work today at Likoni dispensary, hoping to do something useful for sick people who have no government health services.
Tuesday, 17 October 2017
17 October 2017
Today the High Court lifted the ban on demonstrations that the government had put in place until further notice. People have the right to peaceful assembly.
Then the opposition called off the demonstrations in memory of their supporters who have been killed in the demos. A young boy was sent to the store to buy something simple and was shot dead...among others.
Eight days to go till the rerun of the election.
Then the opposition called off the demonstrations in memory of their supporters who have been killed in the demos. A young boy was sent to the store to buy something simple and was shot dead...among others.
Eight days to go till the rerun of the election.
Monday, 16 October 2017
16 October 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/kenyan-elections-crisis-odinga.html
This editorial in the New York Times is a good overview of what is happening here.
Things are turning ugly. There were demonstrations in Mombasa that ended in tear gas but didn't cause damage businesses or interfere with our daily lives much. I was in Bangladesh slum today. My clinic finished at 6:30pm. There are so many sick people who don't have anywhere else to go. This area will almost surly have violence when the election is rerun on the 26th. They want us to keep the clinic open to give first aid.
Amnesty International has reported that over 70 people have been killed in Kenya during this whole process and the rumors I am hearing are sickening. Unless the two big men talk to each other and try to work things out there will be a lot of chaos. Only nine days left till then.
This editorial in the New York Times is a good overview of what is happening here.
Things are turning ugly. There were demonstrations in Mombasa that ended in tear gas but didn't cause damage businesses or interfere with our daily lives much. I was in Bangladesh slum today. My clinic finished at 6:30pm. There are so many sick people who don't have anywhere else to go. This area will almost surly have violence when the election is rerun on the 26th. They want us to keep the clinic open to give first aid.
Amnesty International has reported that over 70 people have been killed in Kenya during this whole process and the rumors I am hearing are sickening. Unless the two big men talk to each other and try to work things out there will be a lot of chaos. Only nine days left till then.
Sunday, 15 October 2017
15 October 2017
This is Sunday and, as usual, I went swimming in the afternoon at the pool in a nearby school. From there I could hear the roar of a huge crowd that had gathered along the ocean nearby in a rally for the opposition party. They have refused to participate in the rerun of the presidential election on Oct 26th. They have called for daily demonstrations to begin tomorrow in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu (the major town in the opposition area of Kenya). The political rhetoric is increasingly angry in tone and the opposition calls for their supporters to boycott the poll. The government insists the polls will be held. The IEBC says they are ready to run the elections properly and will print the ballots at the end of this week with all eight names of the original contenders in the first poll. Tension is increasing in the country and no one is sure what will happen from day to day.
Meanwhile, the nurses' strike continues since June 5th. Marsabit county, which is semi-arid and very poor, has 20 women dying daily due to complications of childbirth. Maternal deaths from Jan to June were 857 compared to 413 last year. No child has received an immunization since June. The big fear is that an outbreak of measles will occur and this virus kills. The nurses' strike will not be solved until we get a president and a government that is functioning.
I will go to a clinic here in Bangladesh informal settlement, Mombasa tomorrow, hoping peace will continue. So far Mombasa has been relatively calm.
Meanwhile, the nurses' strike continues since June 5th. Marsabit county, which is semi-arid and very poor, has 20 women dying daily due to complications of childbirth. Maternal deaths from Jan to June were 857 compared to 413 last year. No child has received an immunization since June. The big fear is that an outbreak of measles will occur and this virus kills. The nurses' strike will not be solved until we get a president and a government that is functioning.
I will go to a clinic here in Bangladesh informal settlement, Mombasa tomorrow, hoping peace will continue. So far Mombasa has been relatively calm.
Friday, 13 October 2017
13 October 2017
So it seems that there was violence in Nairobi and Kisumu the day before yesterday. It came out in yesterday's paper but not from the BBC or the US Embassy. The paper says that the opposition has vowed to block off all the roads to Nairobi if they try to have a rerun on Oct 26th. We don't need threats like this...and maybe it is fake news. Some friends have told me that the opposition demos are infiltrated by government supporters who then cause chaos which gets blamed on the opposition. Someone filmed a police officer breaking the window to his vehicle which he was going to claim was broken by the demonstrators. Take home point is verify the reports and use trusted sources...like me! I can tell you for sure what is happening here in my little corner of Mombasa.
So, the Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary, Matiang'i, has outlawed demonstrations by the opposition in Nairobi, Kisuma and Mombasa. The hospital in Kisumu is overwhelmed with sick patients since the nurses are still on strike. The businesses in Nairobi have lost millions due to the protests. Today there was a demonstration in Mombasa but it was dispersed by tear gas and didn't disrupt much down town. I was down there an hour later and you wouldn't have known anything happened. However, there was a big truck full of soldiers passing by the Cathedral. There have also been many planes flying over head since the middle of the night. Wonder what they are bringing in. I doubt it is tourists.
Talking to some friends I found out that when the President came to Mombasa on Monday he fed the people with a rice dish, biryani, that has a lot of spices and oil. Many of the people who where bused in gorged themselves and then got sick afterwards with diarrhea because they aren't used to such heavy food. Money was also distributed. People got anywhere from $20-60 which for them makes the trip worth it for sure!
Meanwhile, 3.5 million Kenyans in the semi arid northern areas face starvation due to drought. That's almost 10% of the population.
So, the Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary, Matiang'i, has outlawed demonstrations by the opposition in Nairobi, Kisuma and Mombasa. The hospital in Kisumu is overwhelmed with sick patients since the nurses are still on strike. The businesses in Nairobi have lost millions due to the protests. Today there was a demonstration in Mombasa but it was dispersed by tear gas and didn't disrupt much down town. I was down there an hour later and you wouldn't have known anything happened. However, there was a big truck full of soldiers passing by the Cathedral. There have also been many planes flying over head since the middle of the night. Wonder what they are bringing in. I doubt it is tourists.
Talking to some friends I found out that when the President came to Mombasa on Monday he fed the people with a rice dish, biryani, that has a lot of spices and oil. Many of the people who where bused in gorged themselves and then got sick afterwards with diarrhea because they aren't used to such heavy food. Money was also distributed. People got anywhere from $20-60 which for them makes the trip worth it for sure!
Meanwhile, 3.5 million Kenyans in the semi arid northern areas face starvation due to drought. That's almost 10% of the population.
Wednesday, 11 October 2017
12 October 2017
So there is more confusion! The high court just ruled on the petition by another presidential candidate that he should be allowed to contest in the rerun of the presidential elections which will be held on the 26th...maybe. It was the IEBC that said that only the top two candidates could contest so the court said the IEBC made another mistake. They aren't getting things right at all in this process. So, if the election is rerun on the 26th they better get new ballot papers printed quickly...and of course that will cost more money. Now the IEBC has said they are going to put all eight candidates on the ballot. Raila sent a letter to the IEBC to withdraw but he hasn't sent the required form yet. Living with a lawyer has made all of this much more interesting and I'll miss our discussions when she's gone!
Things are quiet all over the country. There were supposed to be demonstrations today but there weren't any in Mombasa. I drove back from Voi and the road is still bad, hot and dusty with lots of police stopping us for no good reason. But there were less trucks and my medicine order came in so I am happy and have plenty of work to do.
Things are quiet all over the country. There were supposed to be demonstrations today but there weren't any in Mombasa. I drove back from Voi and the road is still bad, hot and dusty with lots of police stopping us for no good reason. But there were less trucks and my medicine order came in so I am happy and have plenty of work to do.
11 October 2017
So the lawyers have a lot of work to do. The IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) was in a crisis meeting last night. The President says that they will go on with the elections as planned on 26th Oct. The opposition claims that the electoral law states that the nominations for a new election must be made and the new election must be held within 90 days of Oct 26th...which is Christmas of course. All the people I'm with are disgusted and furious. They are tired of politics and exhausted from caring for so many sick people. But of course I'm with a group of Sisters who have been working very hard since the nurses' strike began on 5th June. The average Kenyan is struggling to put food on the table because the economy is down and the business is poor. Tourism is down and that is one of the biggest employers here on the coast. I'm sure that the opposition feels differently but I'm not around those people at the moment. I'll find out when I get back to Mombasa which is an opposition stong hold.
An MP in Nairobi got into a fist fight as he has been arrested for maligning the President. This kind of thing will give others permission to use violence to vent their anger. The churches are praying for peace but someone needs to help those who are disenfranchised to find peaceful means to channel their energies. I just hope Kenyans learned form 2008 and things stay peaceful...no matter what the leaders try to do.
An MP in Nairobi got into a fist fight as he has been arrested for maligning the President. This kind of thing will give others permission to use violence to vent their anger. The churches are praying for peace but someone needs to help those who are disenfranchised to find peaceful means to channel their energies. I just hope Kenyans learned form 2008 and things stay peaceful...no matter what the leaders try to do.
Tuesday, 10 October 2017
10 October 1917
The opposition has pulled out of the rerun of the presidential rerun election scheduled on 26th October. Hard to know what this means. I'm in Voi doing a clinic in the only hospital for the entire county of Taita Taveta due to the strikes of nurses etc. The president was here campaigning today. Still hoping and praying that peace prevails.
Thursday, 5 October 2017
05 October
Update on Kenya politics and economics
There is a terrible drought in northern Kenya, especially Turkana, and the government hasn't sent them anything. Last night on the BBC they reported that the girls and women are resorting to prostitution to get money for food. They are feeding newspaper to the cattle to keep them producing milk. I can't imagine this will work?!? Many men have migrated north towards S. Sudan to look for pasture for the cattle, leaving the women and children behind. The NGOs trying to help them are very distraught and say the situation is critical. The government is not functioning and politics is overtaking everything in the country.
A Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, young at 29, was put in prison twice for calling the the president a son of a !!!!!. The university students demonstrated to protest the way he was treated. There are many reports of police brutality towards the students as the police response to the demos. Yesterday the students were all sent home from school because the government fears more disturbances with the upcoming elections on the 26th.
The two main parties haven't agreed on the process of the rerun of the elections yet.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa (CAM) is trying to organize 50 volunteers from every parish, of which there are 50. This should give enough observers to be posted at each of the 2,889 polling stations in the four counties that are part of the CAM. My sense is that Mombasa will be relativity quiet but there are other places that are already experiencing chaos which doesn't bode well for the future.
Yesterday I saw a beautiful sunrise over the Indian Ocean and the almost full moon rose over the ocean in the evening. I'm attending the Kenya Health Commission for the Council of Bishops Annual General Meetings on the ocean. What a beautiful way to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis!
There is a terrible drought in northern Kenya, especially Turkana, and the government hasn't sent them anything. Last night on the BBC they reported that the girls and women are resorting to prostitution to get money for food. They are feeding newspaper to the cattle to keep them producing milk. I can't imagine this will work?!? Many men have migrated north towards S. Sudan to look for pasture for the cattle, leaving the women and children behind. The NGOs trying to help them are very distraught and say the situation is critical. The government is not functioning and politics is overtaking everything in the country.
A Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, young at 29, was put in prison twice for calling the the president a son of a !!!!!. The university students demonstrated to protest the way he was treated. There are many reports of police brutality towards the students as the police response to the demos. Yesterday the students were all sent home from school because the government fears more disturbances with the upcoming elections on the 26th.
The two main parties haven't agreed on the process of the rerun of the elections yet.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa (CAM) is trying to organize 50 volunteers from every parish, of which there are 50. This should give enough observers to be posted at each of the 2,889 polling stations in the four counties that are part of the CAM. My sense is that Mombasa will be relativity quiet but there are other places that are already experiencing chaos which doesn't bode well for the future.
Yesterday I saw a beautiful sunrise over the Indian Ocean and the almost full moon rose over the ocean in the evening. I'm attending the Kenya Health Commission for the Council of Bishops Annual General Meetings on the ocean. What a beautiful way to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis!
PEACE OF THE CALMING WAVES AND SHINING RAYS TO YOU
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