Baptists Serve Kenya's Displaced After Post-Election Violence | Christianity Today

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Christianity Today, January (Web-only), 2008 |

Baptists Serve Kenya's Displaced After Post-Election Violence

Nearly 600 dead in clashes, and more than 250,000 ousted from homes.

Sue Sprenkle, Baptist Press | posted 1/15/2008 10:25AM

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"We fear going back," Kamau says. Friends nod in agreement, adding that many in this camp talk about moving to a new location.

Hatfield explains the decision to leave is a major one. Many of the displaced have lived in the same place for 30 or 40 years.

"These are innocent people hurt by the turmoil," Hatfield says. "They've been driven from their homes to these camps out of fear."

Each "displaced peoples" camp looks strangely similar. Children run and play. Stacks of used clothes are piled high. Women cook over wood fires with extra large pots. Piles of furniture and mattresses litter the yard.

A few of the larger camps provide a little entertainment with comedians or dramas. But for the most part, people just sit waiting for peace and waiting to go home.

Related Elsewhere:

Christianity Today earlier interviewed Mission Aviation Fellowship's Kenya director on the country's crisis.

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January (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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Philip

Posted: January 15, 2008 7:32 PM


That there are many in Kenya who call themselves Christians and, with the killings going on among the tribes its a great shame. Time for the local Kenyan Christians to show what it means to follow after Christ.

John O

Posted: January 15, 2008 5:02 PM

The contribution towards the relief effort described in this piece is great. It is disappointing though, that it does seem to be a promo for the Baptist relief effort, rather than a call for Christian support. There are many others working to help in Kenya, including a lot of people - Anglicans, non-denominational mission societies- contributing and even being at risk 'on the ground' in the violence areas. Support for the whole relief effort would be better than a promo for one group.

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