Kenya News: Talking Points & Resource Links - archived 2/29/2008

Crisis in Congo

Congo is Kenya's neighbor. Crisis in the region causes instability in neighboring countries. Quakers have a significant community in eastern Congo, experiencing desperate living conditions. A quarter million people have been displaced in this most recent chapter of the civil war in Congo. Here's how you can help:

+ Read posts about the escalating crisis in Congo
+ Act by contacting elected officials
+ Pray for all concerned that the conflict may be ended
+ Give generously to support relief efforts.

Encourage your Quaker meeting or Friends church to get involved in bringing peace in Congo, one of the ten most under-reported humanitarian stories for the past decade (Doctors without Borders).

Click below to learn more:

> Contact your elected officials about the crisis in Congo

> Read the UN's IRIN news briefing on Congo

> Read AFSC's staff update on Congo

> Read AGLI's staff update on Congo

> Read the BBC country profile on Congo

> Read about Doctors without Borders work in Congo

> Read report from the Independent (UK)

Welcome to Kenya News

This blog was created by Mary Kay Rehard and is intended as a place Friends (Quakers) and others may share news about Kenya, especially regarding the crisis of post-election violence.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in postings do not necessarily reflect the views of myself or any organization mentioned on this site. Messages may contain breaking news and details should be confirmed.
Check out the links below for news and updates out of Kenya, background and ways to give funds for relief. Click on any of the Blog Archive listings to view a posting.
> View a concise chronology of the post-election crisis.

Daily Devotions from Taizé

Whoever seeks reconciliation with a simple heart is able to pass through rock-hard situations like the water of a stream that, in early springtime, makes its way through the still-frozen ground.
-Brother Roger of Taizé.

There are physical forms of violence on earth, including war, torture, murder…. There are other more subtle forms of violence that are concealed in cunning tactics, in suspicion, mistrust, humiliation…. “There is no violence in God. God sent Christ not to accuse us, but to call us to himself, not to condemn us, but because he loves us.”
-Letter to Diognetus

> For daily Bible readings click here.

> For daily meditation click here.

>> From the Taizé community website - To the Sources of Faith page.

The Taizé community is an ecumenical monastic community that welcomes young people for prayer and reflection, and for building trust and reconciliation.

Kofi Annan's roadmap to peace for Kenya

Mr Annan said he expected the crucial political negotiations to be completed within four weeks.

Further deliberations might take longer, perhaps up to a year.

These would look into deeper questions:

+ unequal distribution of resources
+ marginalisation and land ownership
+ proposals to change Kenyan institutions to prevent such a crisis happening again

One crucial element to the Annan proposals is that they are designed to be binding on the parties as different sections are agreed, so there will be no backsliding.

When Mr Annan arrived in Nairobi more than a week ago he said he:

came with no solution, but to insist that, for the sake of the people of Kenya,
a solution must be found.

Read the whole story from BBC

Friends Plan Peace Conference - Jan 24-27 Kakamega

Friends United Meeting Press Release
January 14, 2008
Kisumu, Kenya

Kenyan Yearly Meetings and Quaker organizations will hold a Quaker Peace Conference 24-27th January 2008 at Sheywe Guest House, Kakamega, to analyze recent events in Kenya and discern God’s call for Friends’ ministries in this context.

The conference will bring together 60 participants, including the leaders of all fifteen Kenyan Yearly Meetings, the leaders of the Kenyan Quaker peace organizations, and others representing Friends programmes and ministries, including schools, hospitals, and evangelistic missions.

Participants will explore seven themes in small groups:

+ Peace and non-violence as central to the gospel
+ Trauma healing and post-conflict ministries
+ Humanitarian needs, Internally Displaced People and vulnerable populations
+ Ethnic conflict and reconciliation toward a harmonious society
+ Preaching and evangelism in the present context
+ The mission of our institutions of education and healthcare
+ Global partnership and the role of our international/ecumenical partners

Worship and Biblical reflections will be woven throughout the programme.

The purpose of the conference is to pray together for unity and purpose as Friends, to offer the gift of our Testimonies to our nation of Kenya during this time of unrest, and through the long process of reconciliation and healing that lies ahead.

Friends World Committee for Consultation and Friends United Meeting are both accepting contributions to support the cost of the Conference and the implementation of whatever actions will emerge.

For further information, contact:
Eden Grace, Friends United Meeting
PO Box 478 Kisumu 40100
+254 735 479174
peaceconference - at - edengrace.org

Finding the actors: data on selected peace organizations in Kenya

By Wakuraya Wanjohi, in Wajibu 2007

A number of organizations in Kenya have made it their concern, not only to try and solve conflict between warring groups but also to teach individuals how they can become better instruments of peacemaking. In the overview of such groups below, we have excluded most organizations that work on a district or provincial level.

For information about these bodies, the organization to contact is PeaceNet. It is PeaceNet’s objective to coordinate the work of the various peace groups in the country. We have also included organizations that work on pan-African or international level but which have a substantial local programme.

Mention must also be made of the various religious coordinating bodies, such as the National Council of Churches of Kenya, the Catholic Secretariat, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, etc. Most of them have justice and/or peace committees working both at district and at national level, often in collaboration with civic peace organizations. The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya also has peacemaking as one of its objectives.

Peace organizations in Kenya

Organization
Postal Address
Tel/Fax
E-mail/website
Emphasis/Special programme

Action Aid Kenya
Box 42814 Nbi
4440440
4440444
admin.kenya - at - actionaid.org
Peacebuilding

Africa Peace Forum
Box 76621 Nbi 00508
3874092 3874096
apfo - at - amaniafrika.org
Research, Consultancies, Liaison with governments

Africa Peace Point
Box 21573 Nbi
3877553 387400
http://www.africapeacepoint.org/

Peacebuilding, Reconciliation

Amani People’s Theatre
Box 13909 Nbi
http://www.amanipeoplestheatre.org/
Active non-violence, Teaching of drama

Change Agents for Peace International
Box 255 Nbi 00100
6752492
0722 446134
capi - at - africaonline.co.ke
Training for Peacebuilding. Conflict Transformation.

Chemchemi ya Ukweli
Box 14370 Nbi 00800
4442294
4446970
chemchemi - at - cluinterinetk.com
Active non-violence Training

Coalition for Peace in Africa
Box 61753 Nbi 00200
3870845
3866686
http://www.copaafrica.org/
Conflict resolution training

Friends Church (Quakers)
Friends Internat. Centre
Box 41946 Nbi 00100
3877703
fic - at - wananchi.com

Alternatives to Violence (AVP) Training
National Steering Committee
Box 30510 Nbi 00100
227411
Ext 144/097
focalpoint - at - aridland.go.ke
Peacebuilding and Conflict management

NPI-Africa
Box 14894 Nbi 00800
245280
212230
npi - at - africaonline.co.ke
Consulting, Policy, Research, Training

Oxfam GB
Box 40680 Nbi 00100
2820000
hecainfo - at - oxfam.org.uk
Peacebuilding

Peace and Development Network (PeaceNet)
Box 49806 Nbi 00100
2725270 2725271
peacenet - at - peacenetkenya.org
Networking, Training, Consulting

People for Peace in Africa
Box 14877 Nbi 00800
4441372
ppa - at - africaonline.com
Peacebuilding

Peace Tree Network
Box 21573 Nbi 00505
3877553
ptn - at - maf.or.ke
Peace network, Eastern Africa

Practical Action
Box 39493 Nbi 00623
2713540
2719313
Kenya - at - praticalaction.or.ke
http://www.practicalaction.org/
Peacebuilding in pastoral areas

Rural Women Peace Link
Box 7306 Eldoret 30100
0722
462 852
Peacebuilding in Western Kenya and the Rift Valley

Security Research and Information Centre
Box 56622 Nbi 00200
449503
sric - at - srickenya.org
Security Research and Information