update on kenya situation

Hi all, thanks everyone for the messages, texts & calls - we are ok!! I decided to post a blog entry, which will also update on Facebook, because I have very limited access to power/internet right now. We've been outside of Kitale - about 8 hours by road from Nairobi - since Dec 22. The election was held on Dec 27, but results were not released until Dec 30. I was (previously) a supporter of Mwai Kibaki, the incumbent, based on his decent track record and no-nonsense work ethic. However, I was shocked - along with millions of Kenyans - to see the lead suddenly turn from Raila-Raila-Raila-Raila during the counting period to, all of a sudden - oops, Kibaki won! Now the country is in chaos, as you've been seeing on the news. I won't go into all of it, except to say how we are affected...

We are staying at Anthony's home village, Lol-Keringet, which is about 4km from the main (paved) road and then we hop a couple of fences surrounding a forest to get to his place. We either drive the car way around this forest, though fields and people's yards, or leave it at a neighbour's place and walk in. Right now, the whole town of Kitale has no fuel - gas stations are closed, and most of the shops that open at all close around 3pm. Some phone lines are cut,
including the one for my ATM. I shopped today with the credit card, which thankfully worked, stocking up on essentials since we might not be able to drive to Kitale town again until they have fuel. Our office was supposed to open today, but as of now, it will be Monday at the earliest. All the Kenyans (and almost-Kenyans) are in their village homes, and since the roads are barricaded and generally unsafe, we are all stuck. Without fuel!

I have seen huge fires burning on Mount Elgon, and heard rumors of houses closer to home being burnt. The main issue is tribal - the opposition, Raila Odinga, a Luo, has the support of most of the tribes, but the incumbent (and now sworn-in for a second term) is from the majority tribe, the Kikuyu. So if you are from a tribe that is likely to have voted for the Kikuyu - such as a Kikuyu yourself - you are a target. Anthony is from the second largest tribe, the Luhya, who are known to be fairly neutral (thankfully!), and, in this area, the Kalenjins (part of the opposition) are few in comparison.

Therefore, we are not really in any danger... just a lot of inconvenience! There is apparently a curfew from 6pm, and very few cars or public transportation on the roads at any time. We hear the occasional drunken shouts & even someone getting beaten up in "our" forest. Otherwise, we're not moving at night - not even to a New Year's Eve party at a neighbours on the other side of the woods!

Since we had planned to only stay for a few days in Lol-Keringet, our supplies, clothes, diapers, and batteries are running out. But we have been saved from total mud hut life by having access to the Kitale Club - much more exclusive than our club in Nairobi, but luckily they accept our membership card! I snuck into the ladies golf club locker room & had my first hot-clean-running-water shower today in 12 days! This was our first time out in about 3-4 days, so now I
have everything charged up as well. But... it's getting dark, so we better get home. Since our car is on E, we will wait until we have news that the town has fuel until we come out again. But my phone should be on, and I get my khisa.com mail on it (hopefully the battery will last!).

Again, thanks for your thoughts & concerns. I wish everyone a peaceful, happy new year.