Jan. 16, 2008 - Pastor Mwaya Wa Kitavi, a Christian Reformed World Missions leader for Africa, is optimistic that his homeland of Kenya will weather its current political crisis without plunging further into turmoil and violence.
Coming days will be critical to the political future of the country that erupted in protests, arsons and killing earlier this month after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election. Raila Odinga, the challenger, charged that the election was rigged and has refused to concede defeat.
"What you see in Kenya right now are the pains of a growing democracy," says Kitavi, the CRWM's eastern and southern Africa regional leader.
"We have a political crisis, but not a situation of (ethnic conflict)." He says he believes the violence has come out of frustration over the election results.
Kitavi, who most recently was an executive with the Chicago-based Bible League, says Kenya is a country that for many years has helped to mediate tensions between warring factions in surrounding countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. Now, Kenya is the focus of intense mediation efforts on the part of its neighbors.
"Former presidents from these countries, and former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan are trying to help," says Kitavi, who also is pastor of the African Community Church, a Christian Reformed congregation in Grand Rapids. "I hope sanity prevails and that peace will be restored."
Kitavi is a member of the Christian Reformed Church's Event Response Team, a group put into place to monitor the situation in Kenya for CRC staff working in Kenya.
"We don't feel that they are in any danger, but they have to be cautious of where they go and what they do," says Kitavi.
CRC officials say there is a threat of further turmoil this week as the country's newly elected Parliament convenes. Odinga's party, ODM, has more seats than PNU, the party of Kibaki.
"Everyone is tense," Kitavi says. "The battle is moving from the streets and into Parliament. We are waiting to see how that plays out."
The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) has five full-time staff in Kenya. The country is also the base for the CRWRC's HIV/AIDS coordinator for the East/South African region. Partners Worldwide, a CRC business-development ministry, also has a staff person in Kenya.
As he looks at the hardships facing his homeland today, says Kitavi, he thinks of the theological dimensions of the strife. Democracy is young in Kenya and much needs to be done - and redeemed - in order for peace to flourish. He remains hopeful that Kenyans will realize "they need to listen to one another. It is in the best interests in the long run to have peaceful solutions."
Kitavi travels to Kenya several times every year. He says. Kenyans "voted peacefully, but then they began to feel cheated after the results of the election were announced."
What is needed in this young democracy, he says, are institutions and organizations that can help the people find ways to solve differences through discussions and debate and not by burning or killing.
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Henry Hess
Director of Communication
Christian Reformed Church
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