Limbo

Today we spent a tense day awaiting news of the ODM rally: We learned bits and pieces as word trickled in throughout the day. The government sent messages over the mobile phone network warning people "not to take part in any unlawful assembly that may result in violence" and that it is illegal to use cellphone messaging "to send hate messages inciting violence". We used our cellphones to keep in contact with our CBM team mates and friends.

Riala Odinga's ODM rally that was called for 10 am, was interrupted by riot police that kept crowds away from site and blockaded the roads into the city. By the late afternoon, one protester had been killed on Thika Road by a fallen electrical line and Odinga had rescheduled his protest rally for Tuesday, January 8th. Throughout the city were numerous reports of burning tires and mobs being dispersed by police water canons. Later in the day I spoke with a man who had been part of a protest march downtown that had been broken up by police wielding batons, but no one was shot. He told me that "[he and his friends] could not stand by and do nothing while their country was being stolen from them... We only wanted to make a peaceful protest... it is our right!"

We appreciate all of your prayers for Kenya and her people. We continue to pray for a peaceful resolution to this conflict.

We learned this evening that Rosslyn Academy will not be reopening until January 14th at the earliest. It has been a long week for Tristan and Emma to be cooped up in our apartment, but if things quiet down we hope to be able to get them out for a little exercise, even if only to a friend's house with a yard.

BBC_News_Report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7170493.stm

Blessings!