POST ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA

Caritas Africa Update No. 1

 

Overview:

  • Normalcy is slowly returning to most towns hit by the post-election violence in Kenya that erupted on 27th December 2007 after the announcement of the winning Presidential candidate. In Nairobi, most businesses and government offices opened on Monday 7th January 2008. Since then the country has experienced relative calm as International mediators including the AU Chairman- John Kofuor- President of Ghana, and four former Heads of African States –Joackim Chisano- Mozambique, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda- Zambia, Benjamin Mkapa- Tanzania, and Katumile Masire- Botswana, have jetted in the country.

 

  • Displaced persons are being evacuated to safer areas under police security escort as many displaced persons are unable to travel to their families due to lack of transport, increased fares (100%) and general insecurity on the roads. Other are being evacuated from school to other centers in readiness for the re-opening of the schools which are set to re-open next week (14th January 2008) after the dates were pushed from 7th January 2008.

 

  • There is a good humanitarian response from the Government, International Organizations like the Kenya Red Cross, World Food Program, UNICEF, Caritas and also the churches and local communities.

 

  • Kenya is receiving a lot of goodwill messages from all over the world calling for a peaceful way of solving the problem among the leaders especially the President- Mwai Kibaki and the ODM leader –Raila Odinga. Churches and the Kenyan leaders are all calling for peace. The Pope has also joined the catholic bishops in Kenya in calling for peace in the country. All churches dedicated one hour prayers on Sunday for peace in Kenya.

 

Caritas Response:

·      Caritas member organizations in Nairobi have joined hands and are working together as a team, sharing information and planning together through regular co-ordination meetings organized by Caritas Kenya, as the central co-ordination body of Caritas operations in this post-election humanitarian response.

·      To ensure effective co-ordination of the Caritas members in the relief operations members have resolved the following:

Ø  To work together as a team on a joint effort in the relief operations.

Ø  All response activities to be co-ordinated by Caritas Kenya with technical and financial assistance from MOs where need be. This co-ordination includes receiving and disseminating post-election violence proposals from the Dioceses.

Ø  Hold regular co-ordination meetings for information sharing and effective co-ordination.

Ø  Carry out a harmonized assessment of the needs in various Dioceses and work closely with the entire church structure including other Departments in K.C.S like Justice and Peace commission and Missionaries in the humanitarian response. (Trocaire was asked to lead in the process of harmonizing the assessment questionnaire adapted from UNICEF)

Ø  Caritas Kenya to set-up a communication centre for effective co-ordination of the response and effective flow of information.

 

·      Procurement function could be delegated to C.R.S who has the experience and contacts for quick effective procurement. Caritas Kenya to assess its internal capacity on procurements and accordingly inform CRS who are open to assist in the procurement.

 

·      Caritas members to work in focus areas a follows:

Ø  C.R.S – Eldoret, Bungoma and Mombasa (jointly with Cafod) and Kisumu (if possible jointly with Cordaid)

Ø  Trocaire – Nakuru and Kitale

Ø  Caritas Kenya – Kakamega, Kericho and Kisii

Ø  Cafod – Nairobi (slums especially Kariobangi) and Mombasa

Ø  Cordaid – Kisumu and Nairobi.
(Needs assessment is being carried out in all the focus areas.)

 

·         Technical support being provided to Caritas Kenya includes:

Ø  Cafod will second a humanitarian officer to work with Caritas Kenya for a minimum period of two weeks and has also pledged to avail interim administration funds for co-ordination to Caritas Kenya.

Ø  Trocaire will also second a technical assistance from Dublin (Terms of reference for this person already developed)

Ø  Caritas Switzerland and C.R.S are willing to offer technical support or human resource through Secondment to Caritas Kenya if needed. Caritas Kenya needs technical/human support in the following areas:

 

§  Development of appeals (Cafod will second a person)

§  Harmonization of tools, needs assessments and communication (Secondment from Trocaire)

§  Communications (Caritas Kenya to develop a budget to be circulated to MOs in Nairobi)

 

·         Caritas Africa will work closely with Caritas Kenya and member organisations in Nairobi to ensure that the principles of the Confederation Humanitarian Response are implemented and best practises in a humanitarian response are documented and shared within the Confederation. The principle of working together as a true Caritas family within a country is already being evident in this Post- Election violence humanitarian operation in Kenya.

·         Look out for more information from Caritas members. CRS is producing regular updates (Sitreps) on the situation. Bill Rastteta is also sharing this information with caritas Members. Visit also the Caritas Africa Website; www.caritas-africa.org.

 

·         The next Caritas Coordination meeting will be held tomorrow (10th January 2008) in Caritas Kenya. For more information please contact; Caritas Kenya  jmangera@catholicchurch.or.ke or emergency@catholicchurch.or.ke

 

 

 

Caritas Africa

9th January 2008