Kenya’s Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, was in London during July. He assured business leaders and tourists that “Kenya is back on its feet”. Not everyone in Kenya would agree, but certainly there is not the same tension in the air there was following the election. Businesses have suffered and some have not re-opened, food prices have risen — as they have across the world — and still there are internally displaced people too frightened to return home. David Duncan, Aim Europe’s Media Director, writes from Nairobi.

Roof of AIC Kibera

The enormous roof of AIC Kibera, which was severely damaged when the church was fire-bombed. It has recently been replaced with the help of donations to the Kenya Crisis Fund.

There has been a generous response to the Kenya Crisis Fund with many thousands of pounds being given to help with church rebuilding and assisting church leaders.

I had the privilege of meeting Stephen Munyambu, the youth pastor of Milimani AIC whose remarkable story featured in the last edition of The African Connection. Stephen’s house and all his family’s belongings were completely destroyed simply because he was of the wrong tribe. He, and his wife Zephorah, are committed to reconciliation. He told me, “We cannot let what happened take our joy of salvation. So we agreed that we are not moving away from the neighbourhood. If we move away it will become harder for us to be able to forgive.”

I also visited AIC Kibera and met with its pastor, Andrew Ouma. The church is on the edge of the Kibera slum and was fire-bombed during the riots in what is known as the post-election violence when over 1,500 are reported to have lost their lives.

Most of the damage to the building was to its massive roof and its electrical system. Assistance from donors has helped the church replace the roof but there is still much to do. This church was perhaps the most severely damaged of the churches that the fund is helping.

Marv Smith, Aim’s Executive Officer for the Eastern Region, comments on the fund’s purpose. “The Kenya Crisis Fund has enabled the Mission to assist hundreds of needy families who lost everything during the political crisis that affected Kenya the first three months of 2008. Assistance included buying food, household supplies and furniture, paying medical bills and helping re-establish family businesses destroyed during the violence. We have been able to give substantial gifts to rebuild two churches severely damaged or destroyed during the crisis. We are so thankful for all who gave towards this project as a demonstration of love and concern for the people of Kenya at this time of profound need.”

The fund, which is administered by the Mission’s Eastern Region leadership, is still open. Cheques made out to ‘Aim International’ can be sent to our European HQ in Nottingham.

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