Jirani Project Kenya Update by Mark Okello

"All the families that benefited from the recent emergency relief (provided by The Jirani Project) was received with much appreciation, and are happy that, it has begun to boost the little business being undertaken by some families, while others especially in upcountry have bought maize and beans seeds to grow crops. The long rains are already pounding in the most areas of the country opening up the planting season in Kenya. Most of the families we support don't have big farms to grow large amount of foodstuffs and perhaps for selling. They are involved in little subsistence crops just to help feed the immediate family and sometime after harvest it doesn't last long before they embark into buying food for family (food insecurity).

"The goods and services have tripled in Kenya making it even harder for a common mwananchi (citizen) to make ends meet, as a result of the post elections crisis.

"Franco's grandmother was admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital, but now she's well again but not very strong to do her normal duties.

"Lucy W. was scheduled to complete her course this March, but was given until the end of April because of the time lost during the violence. The manager may consider Lucy for attachments that will lead to employment within the institution; I'm keeping my hope high on those developments.

"Gladys I. seems to be doing well at her institution. She is also making some little money from her tailoring and dress making experience when out of school.

"Grace is well and continuing with her studies.

"Joseph and family were mostly hit by the election clashes and are now settling in again. Joseph benefited from the Jirani relief, and the mother has purchased a few items to begin with awaiting if the government will also give them support as promised. The family comes from Luo community and lived in the middle of Kikuyu houses and the two groups are perceived to be enemies of the other. It was not easy for them, but god saved the family throughout the turbulence.

"The end of the first term is just about to end where by learning was much disrupted by the recent violence and normalcy was returning slowly although some families are still living in fear and have not come to realization of what exactly happened that they have to suffer. Though learning did not take place well in various schools but this last week our Kids were able to sit for end of term one examination.

"When School closes Lilian N.'s college opens for the training of the teachers (ECD).

"As I summarize this report, I'm glad to have had another opportunity within first term to check on our (Jirani) children and with the help and support that has in deed supplemented families' efforts. My family and I thanks the Jirani board members for your support at the time of need and deep crisis, you know from election violence, accident (ed.: Mark was injured in an auto accident), my kids fees, food shortage, sickness, and threats on my family. The past two months made us very unstable; we continue to trust in the lord."

Thanks

Mark.

Mark Okello

Kipkarren River, Kenya

Update provided by Mark Okello, Jirani Project Program Coordinator, Nairobi, Kenya

Please Note: We have preserved Mark's original text and speech patterns, and did not attempt to impose American-English usage standards on his writing.

March 29, 2008

"I am happy to report that all is settling in well for all our children and the families they stay with. Particularly, Rosi, her one sibling, and the mother are now settling in after staying in the Turbo IDP (internally displaced persons) camp for sometime. Her other step sibling, Shiro, she's still holed up at the camp, reason being that her late father was a Kikuyu and, therefore, people against the tribe may harm her if she returned with her mother and the two siblings. Rosi has now embarked on her studies after several days on the run (ed.: and nearly two months in the IDP camp) following the aftermath of the election violence that was experienced in the area.