Children play outside the Reconciliation Peace and Unity Church in
Kiambaa, Eldoret, which is under construction. The church was built
after the Kiambaa Baptist Church was burnt down during post-election
violence to foster peace among communities living in the area.
Photo/JARED NYATAYA
By DENNIS ODUNGA dodunga@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, September 2 2011 at 22:30
Posted Friday, September 2 2011 at 22:30
Far away from The Hague, it is business as usual in the county that was worst affected by post-election violence.
The sight of destroyed buildings, which have not been given a
facelift three years after the killings and families eking out a living
from tents brings forth memories of the 2007/08 violence in Uasin Gishu
County. (Read: Ruto led armed wing, Ocampo dossier says)
Some 1,113 people were killed and more than 350,000 displaced during the chaos over the presidential election results.
The
shell of buildings that were in the area is in shap contrast to the
mud-walled iron-roofed new houses that the government has constructed,
for those whose homes were torched.
Although some
houses are still under construction, the pain of losing loved ones and
valuables is still evident on the faces of many, especially when
families explain what they went through.
People from
different ethnic groups coming together to participate in projects to
foster reconciliation, is an indicator of the path the search for peace
has taken so far. This is besides, the greenery of maize crops on farms.
Confirmation
of hearings of Eldoret North MP William Ruto, his Tinderet counterpart
Henry Kosgey and Deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, are no longer a
cause of concern among the residents. At least, not for now.
Others in The Hague list are, radio presenter Joshua
Sang’, former police commissioner Hussein Ali and Cabinet Secretary,
Ambassador Francis Muthaura.
“We hear about the
progress of this matter through the media. Otherwise, we are going on
with our lives as if nothing is happening,” says Mr George Kung’u , a
resident of Burnt Forest, which was the epicentre of the violence.
Mr
Kung’u adds that they were freely interacting and carrying out business
with their Kalenjin neighbours and in most cases use such opportunities
to remind each other about the losses they incurred and why they should
never resort to violence.
Mr Sammy Kirwa and Mr John
Arusei, elders from the Kalenjin say the old generation was advising
youths about the need to build sustainable peace.
“Peace
is here with us and we hope no Kenyan in his right senses will burn
another’s house, injure or kill his neighbour,” says Mr Arusei.
“This country must move forward and what we are discouraging is a Kenyan looking at his fellow Kenyan in terms of tribe.”
At
Mr Peter Kuria’s home in Kiambaa, Wareng District, Mr Edwin Bii and Mr
Sammy Bitok are putting final touches to his son’s house that is being
constructed under the resettlement plan spear-headed by the Special
Programmes ministry.
The houses are for those families
who did not receive funding from the initial project undertaken by the
Kenya Red Cross Society, and the international Organisation for
Migration.
Mr Kuria says the on-going trials at The Hague have nothing to do with his life.
Mr Kuria says the on-going trials at The Hague have nothing to do with his life.
The final verdict of the cases, he points out, will not help him recover what he lost during the violence.
What is important to him was a change of attitude among those who maimed, killed and displaced their fellow Kenyans.
No tribe spared
“It’s
like any other court process and many of the victims have developed a
phobia for politicians. So we don’t care so much about what they do or
say as long as they don’t draw us into their politics, since we suffered
because of politicians who did little to help when they ascended to
power,” says Mr Kuria.
Mr Kuria explains that forgetting the loss they went through remains a tall order although he has forgiven his aggressors.
Besides,
he points out, the violence spared no tribe although some suffered more
than others. Some he recalls are yet to trace members of their family.
“I
lived at the IDP camp at the showground for a long time. The rains
caused us untold suffering and cold nights left our children, in
particular, at God’s mercy as we grappled with the fear of contracting
pneumonia,” he recalls.
He, however, points out that they are optimistic their new found peace is sustainable.
“Most
of those who attacked us are remorseful. Men rarely apologise openly
but through their actions, we have seen that they are not celebrating
what happened,” Mr Kuria adds.
A stones throw away, the Reconciliation Peace and Unity Church, Kiambaa is under construction.
The new church is on the site where the Kiambaa Baptist Church used to be.
The
old church was burnt down during the violence killing 35 people who
were locked inside. The new one is being built with funding from Kenya
Solidarity Group in Switzerland.
Members of the Kenya
Assemblies of God Church where the 35 people died agreed with those
from the Baptist church to construct a joint place of worship that will
promote peace.
Pastor Patrick Wairura says: “The
workers happily chat as they go about their duties. We have no doubt the
reconciliation has changed our perceptions towards each other.”
He appealed to those who still harbour grudges against their neighbours to delink themselves from the tribalism tag.
“We are anticipating the next general election to be peaceful so
that we can forge ahead with the gains we have made. We should not let
greed for leadership divide us along ethnic lines to the extent that we
no longer value human life,” the pastor explains.
But Ms Mary Njoki, a peace crusader in Uasin Gishu who has been
instrumental in promoting reconciliation, fears bad blood may still be
bubbling under the surface, if politicians don’t tone down on their
public utterances.
“Much still needs to be done to
avoid a repeat of what happened in the last general election. The love
for each other is yet to come from people’s hearts. Peace just on one’s
lip is dangerous, as it’s not genuine,” she warns.
Mr
Stephen Gathuo, the IDPs’ North Rift chairman reveals that some of the
victims watch as those who caused them harm walk freely in the
neighbourhood.
Some have adamantly refused to face those they attacked to seek forgiveness.
“Those
who inflicted pain on their neighbours should muster courage, swallow
their pride and face those they wronged to seek forgiveness,” the
chairman says.
He adds: “Some are on wheel chairs while others are incurring a huge bills to seek treatment for the injuries they suffered.”
Some youths, he points out, view seeking forgiveness as an act of cowardice and betrayal.
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