Shifting Times

Television screens throughout the country were tuned in for yesterday's live broadcast of the opening of Kenya's tenth parliament and the swearing in of the newly elected body of 207 members of parliament. Rumours were circulating that Odinga would cross the floor and sit on the government side of the house: fortunately, Odinga did not slip into such theatrics and remained with the opposition. In another surprising turn, Mr. Kenneth Marende (an ODM MP and member of Odinga's opposition) was elected speaker of the house in a narrow secret ballot vote. This is seen as a big victory for the ODM (But did not appease their call for a new election).

The big debate of the day arose as members of the opposition refused to swear an oath of allegiance to President Kibaki: requesting to swear their allegiance "to the Republic" as they do not recognize Kibaki as President. The ODM speaker, Mr. Marende, over ruled their requests and enforced the Constitution by having anyone who wanted to remain an MP swear the oath of allegiance as written. The day saw no violence, but everyone was left with the sobering reality of 28 ODM protest rallies called for across the country over the next three days.

The mood seemed very cool today, matched by a heavy and chilling rain. The rallies today took place outside of Nairobi in towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, and Migen. Rosslyn Academy, where our children attend school, shut down its bus service for the remainder of the week and is only opening the classrooms in the mornings. We brought Tristan and Emma today, but only three other students showed up to Tristan's class and five other students in Emma's. People are being very cautious when it comes to travel, and staying in close contact through mobile phones. We have been very safe and have seen no trouble throughout our movement in the city (We have even driven into the downtown core where our only concern was the ussual Matatu traffic).

Presently, there are estimated to be 250,000 Kenyans forced out of their homes by rioting, looting and ethnic violence. Even Uganda is receiving nearly 6,000 Kenyan refugees who have crossed the unmarked boarder and are living in a camp near the hilly town of Malaba. This is a huge shift, as Kenya has been the one accustom to receiving refugees from Uganda (not the other way around). We have even heard that some food stocks from the UN store houses in Dadaab have been taken to Nairobi to help in the aid relief going on here (I find this news unbelievable). And yet, the buses from Eastleigh to Northeastern Province have been overloaded this last week, as many Somalis leave the city to stay in a more mono ethnic community such as Garissa.

Thank you all so much being a part of this journey and for lifting up Kenya in your prayers!

In Prayer:
* Please remember Yattani and Kengi who have made it to Dadaab and will be working there with the primary schools. Please also be in prayer for the Carline family who are leaving for Dadaab in the morning for the weekend. They will be visiting Kengi and helping him settle into Dadaab.

* Pray for our partners the Africa Brotherhood Church and African Christian Church and Schools, as they coordinate relief efforts with the Red Cross.

* Please pray for the massive refugee community here in Kenya.

* Pray for safety in slum areas that are suffering from violence of gangs such as the Mungiki who are raising trouble particularly in Mathare Valley and Kibera slum.

* Please continue to pray for the health and safety of all our team mates here in Kenya. Dr. Gary Nelson will be wrapping up his meetings tomorrow and returning to Canada. Please pray for his safe return.