Residents of Kibera, an informal urban settlement in Nairobi, queue for help from the Co-ordination Centre's staff.
(Photo: © CMS)
The coalition of churches helping rehabilitation efforts in Kenya sees reconciliation and resettlement as being priorities for at least the next three months.
Given how suddenly the crisis in Kenya arose after the election results were made known, it proved crucial that the churches made a joint intervention.
There had to be synergy, partnership and networking. That shared witness has been powerful.
CMS Africa Director Dennis Tongoi was instrumental in helping to set up the National Alliance of Churches (NAC), as it's known.
The first phase, “Rescue and Relief”, of its work has been completed.
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During that initial phase, in partnership with relief agencies and NGOs, the NAC Committee helped to co-ordinate the distribution of 425 metric tons of food.
It helped too to connect small groups of people — often numbering less than 50 — with individuals resourced and ready to help.
Moreover, most internally displaced people (IDPs) found refuge at various churches throughout Kenya.
The Co-ordination Centre, in which an NAC committee has taken a leading role and which has been manned by a dedicated group of volunteers since it opened on 5 January this year, helped to co-ordinate the creation of two major IDP camps.
The next phase, “Reconciliation and Resettlement”, of the coalition's strategy requires a longer timeline.
Under what it terms a “counselling and psychosocial response”, so far the NAC has mobilised and dispatched counsellors throughout Kenya to conduct both individual and group counselling sessions.
Counselling is needed for those who have been injured and those in mourning, and cases of sexual abuse have arisen that need to be addressed.
NAC has a list of 80 trained and certified counsellors nationwide, who are voluntarily on call.
A global relief agency is partnering them. It is providing additional training by a disaster response expert of 32 volunteers to facilitate responding to ‘trauma cases’, working in IDP camps, etc.
As for resettlement, given the dispossession of large numbers of Kenyans of their property and jobs and possessions, houses are needed for rent or occupation by the displaced, and funds to help out extreme cases of such need.
Also, educational placements and schooling, as well as transport and education materials (books, play items and uniforms), for displaced children are needed.
The NAC Co-ordinator, thanking 75 key stakeholders who met on 24 January, said, “When we first gathered together, we were motivated by the mandate to love our neighbours.
"The response of the Church to the profound needs created by this crisis has allowed the love of Christ to be felt throughout Kenya.
“I thank you for the spirit of co-operation and unity in Christ with which you have each participated in this effort.
"This unity in the midst of crisis has given me a deeper vision of the magnitude and greatness of the Kingdom of God.
"As Christ’s appointed servants to respond to the needs of those who are suffering and broken as a result of this crisis, I believe it is critical that we continue to press on united as the Body of Christ.
"May God be with us as we work together to bring light and hope to a hurting nation.”
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