IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 3, 2008
CRWRC Media Contact US, Beth DeGraff, 616-648-7821 or 1-800-55-CRWRC CRWRC US Executive Director, Andrew Ryskamp, 616-241-1691, ext. 4160
Cautious Optimism Marks Journey Toward Healing in Kenya
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - "Our initial response is great relief and joy," the Nairobi staff of the Grand Rapids Michigan-based Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org) said today of Kenya's power-sharing agreement brokered by former U.N secretary general Kofi Annan late last week.
"We are cautiously optimistic since this is the beginning of a journey toward healing," CRWRC staff continue. "The particulars of the power-sharing arrangement still need to be put into practice after parliament reconvenes on Thursday to amend the constitution and make this coalition government work. We are waiting to move ahead from there."
The violence that has erupted sporadically across Kenya, particularly in the capitol, since early January began when accusations of election fraud followed a reportedly close vote that put Mwai Kibaki into presidential office over the opposition Orange Democratic Movement led by candidate Raila Odinga. More than a thousand people have been killed in the resulting riots in recent weeks.
Last week's power-sharing agreement will for the first time in Kenya's history introduce a prime minister into the government structure.
As the talks continue, CRWRC is assisting 35,000 Kenyans displaced by violence in the crisis with immediate, emergency food aid and non-food items such as blankets, mosquito nets, sanitation supplies, hygiene education, health services, medical supplies, household items, and trauma counseling. CRWRC depends on non-profit donations for its work and is also distributing a $141,000 grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for this response.
CRWRC has a 25 year presence in Kenya and six staff people actively placed there, including a regional emergency relief coordinator. CRWRC was managing a food relief project to 54,000 people in the Mount Elgon area of central Kenya when the January election violence began to unfold. CRWRC also has three long-term Kenyan church partners that manage programs to improve agriculture practice, business development, literacy, and health and sanitation among Kenya's most desperately impoverished communities.
The average annual per capita income in Kenya is US$1,200.
CRWRC and other Christian Reformed agencies with interests in Kenya have gathered for daily emergency meetings to determine the country's political and social climate, and gauge the relative threat to the safety of staff, partners, and participants in the undulating unrest of the past two months.
U.S. executive director Andrew Ryskamp spoke with Kenya staff in Nairobi last week who said they "were very, very happy. There is a lot of healing that needs to be done now, and CRWRC will play a role in helping that happen." We're hopeful that the power-sharing agreement will hold and calm will persist. Then the hard work of rebuilding and helping bring about reconciliation in Kenya can begin.
Interviews with CRWRC U.S. Executive Director Andrew Ryskamp can be arranged by calling 616-241-1691, ext. 4160 or 1-800-55-CRWRC, or call CRWRC U.S. Media Contact, Beth DeGraff at 616-648-7821.
For your audience members wishing assist Kenyans displaced by post-election violence through CRWRC, donations marked "Kenya Conflict" can be mailed to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI, 49560. Donations can be made online at www.crwrc.org. Email: crwrc@crcna.org.
For more information about CRWRC, visit www.crwrc.org or call 1-800-55-CRWRC. CRWRC is a Christian, non-profit organization of the Christian Reformed Church in North America providing a ministry of development, relief, and justice education to people in need around the world. CRWRC is currently active in 30 countries and has an international reputation for "helping people help themselves."
-30- Beth DeGraff US Media and Justice Contact 2850 Kalamazoo SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560 degraffb@crcna.org ph: 616-241-1691 x4191 fax: 616-724-0806