The lastest perspective by NEGST Vice Chancellor, Douglas Carew

NEGST Brief on National Crisis

In 2002 the world cheered as Kenya underwent a peaceful transition through the ballot box in what was viewed as an exemplary democratic process. However, while tangible progress has been made on some fronts in the last five years, the nation has far to go in establishing a true and stable democracy, and a united Kenya, even as the current crisis demonstrates.

On December 27th 2007, Kenyans went to the polls in unprecedented numbers. They voted
peacefully, they made their choices, they did their job and they did it well. Indeed there was a quasifestive mood in the air as they anticipated the results. Things took a turn for the worse when the Electoral Commission declared the incumbent the winner of the Presidential elections, in view of alleged glaring discrepancies in the process of vote tallying. The challenger felt defrauded and denied justice. A case of one “declared winner” and one “presumed winner” arose. Open and shocking admissions by electoral officials have raised serious doubts over the integrity of the process and the validity of the final results.

In a week, Kenya experienced its darkest days in its 44 years as an independent state. Hundreds have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands are displaced with no shelter, food, water, medicine or hope. Billions of shillings worth of property, business and means of earning a living have been destroyed. The nation reached its lowest ebb with the torching of a church full of destitute Kenyans, mainly women and children; 35 people died. Kenyans are hurting, afraid, ashamed, and disillusioned.

While the genesis of the violence witnessed in the country reportedly goes back to colonial Kenya, the real or perceived failure over the years to address social, political, and economic inequities has taken a toll on the nation. In the midst of the violence the voices of a wounded people began to filter through. Stop the violence! Making every effort to avoid being partisan, being members of a troubled and fractured society, the church and civil society led the call for peace and dialogue. The Churches formed the National Alliance of Churches and initiated a fourfold response:

1. Political mediation – meeting with the key players on Government and the opposition to broker a political resolution of the crisis.

2. Humanitarian - facilitating and providing relief for the affected.

3. Spiritual– mobilizing Christians to pray and fast.

4. Communication – working with the media houses to educate and communicate on the above three. In a united voice, the local media issued a rousing and moving call to “Save our nation.”
South African Nobel Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was one of the first to arrive in the
country to seek mediation. NEGST alumni Peter Karanja and Oliver Simiyu, General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary respectively of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, Bishop Boniface Adoyo of Nairobi Pentecostal Church, and Pastor Oscar Muriu of Nairobi chapel are all at the fore-front of the church’s initiative in bringing the two parties to the negotiating table and mediating a political resolution of the crisis. These and other NEGST alumni are providing leadership in reconciliation based on four Christian pillars (Psalm 85:10) truth, mercy, justice and peace.

In the midst of the misery we thank God that his work at NEGST has stood the test of
building leaders of integrity. Relative calm has returned to Kenya over the past week. NEGST and its environs were safe throughout the protests, but many staff and students were caught behind violence zones. We hope the worst is over and a negotiated settlement will pave the way for healing, reconciliation, justice, and lasting peace. At NEGST, we have dedicated the Chapel services to personal healing - coming to terms with our ethnicity as Christians, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation as a community of believers - and to national healing. As our neighbors’ keeper, we are contributing food and basic essentials to distribute to those who have been affected both within our community and in areas around us that are really in need. We welcome any assistance to help alleviate the suffering of the destitute.

Please remember Kenya in your prayers. As you pray, please pray for:

1. A resolution of the political crisis as a matter of priority. In this respect the President and the
opposition leader need to meet and dialogue, aided by mediators. Pray for our leaders not to
let the sin of pride prevent them from doing that which is for the greater good of this nation.
Pray for wisdom for the group of eminent Africans mediators, led by Koffi Annan, the former
UN Secretary General.

2. A complete cessation of the violence. Thankfully the levels have gone down considerably in
the affected areas. Pray especially that we will not have reprisals, for reconciliation among
our peoples, and that we may live in justice, peace, and harmony.

3. Humanitarian crisis and assistance: pray for the displaced for the provision of shelter, food,
medicine and the return to their homes; for the needed donations to come in, and for those
involved in providing relief.

4. Bereaved families; for grace and comfort, and for the process of grieving and healing.

5. Post-crisis solutions. That the complex longer term issues will be faced with honesty, truth,
justice, and mercy so that lasting solutions, including building systems and institutions of
integrity, will be arrived at.

M. Douglas Carew
Vice-Chancellor
14th January, 2008
P.O. Box 24686-00502
Karen, NAIROBI, KENYA
Tel: 254-020-882104/5, 882038 Fax: 254-020-882906
Email: info@negst.edu Website: www.negst.edu