IDP Camp and some Drama

Today is our last full day in Kenya, we leave for home tomorrow night.  On our way from Nakuru to Nairobi today we stopped at the Kikitemo IDP camp. These are people that were forced from their homes, some losing fathers and mothers, during the post-election violence in early 2008.  They settled herein 2010 when our WBS worker, John Kariuki found them.  He has organized them into a community of believers with the help of Grace, a widows who is their leader.. We have been helping them with food for the orphans and widows and visiting them since last year.

We arrived earlier than expected, so we ran into two men from the Equity Bank who are teachers in personal finance.  They have been working with the IDPs in the area, teaching them how to save and start small businesses, get micro finance loans, etc.  They were nice guys who came in very handy for us as the morning went on.  We toured the camp, seeing the cow and goat projects, and visiting the widows.  The kids were all at school.  This is the first time we have found them with no kids, since in \the past they could not afford to go to school.

We went to their "office" tent to look at the bags and jewlery they had been making. Grace presented a gift to my mom, a poem written by Grace and some pictures, printed on paper and framed.  I'll read it at church, I suspect soon so I'll not print it here.  My mom was very moved.  It was an unexpected blessing. Then all the ladies came in to show us how they weave the baskets. We got lots of pictures and video.  That's when the trouble started.

There was some yelling and shouting just outside the tent.  At first I was startled, Kenyans are usually quite calm, but there was definite anger in those voices.  I peeked through the closed flap and saw a man and some women, shouting angrily and holding a sign denouncing WBS.  John and Grace urged us to stay inside, and Maureen, Angton, and Grace went out to confront the hecklers.  It turns out that there were eight people who live in the camp, but did not want to work in any of the profit making projects organized by Grace and John.  They were not allowed to share on the profits, (although we are still feeding their kids,) and were upset about it.  They made quite a racket, but were eventually able to be reasoned with and they went away, sulking.

While Maureen was dealing with them, we carried on with Grace and the widows.  We went to their church and sang and prayed.  The bank guys were pressed into service as translators, they were very calm throughout the disruption.  Susie spoke with them later and they said that they work with a lot of the IDP camp residents, but this camp is different.  They are the hardest working he said, and do not have to be showed how to make money.  I would agree.  These are the folks who made all of the jewelry and baskets that we have been selling at Java House on Wednesday nights at GCR.

As usual, we were very impressed with all that we saw at IDP.  The widows there told us that when Satan attacks, you know you are on the right road.  They were not bothered by the disruption, but they were a little embarrassed that it had happened with is there.  We were never in any danger, but id did provide all the drama we needed for today.

After we left we drove into Nairobi and met Francis at Java House.  We said goodbye to Angton and had a snack before heading over to the triagle market to let Susie run wild with gift shopping.  On Susie’s first trip, she had asked Frnacis to show her how to negotiate with the merchants, and he did.  Since then, even Francis agrees that the student has become the master as Susie leaves all the merchants shaking their heads that a mzungu could be such a hard bargainer.  With the dollar to shilling exchange rate so high she scored some serious deals, often getting two for one on top of deep discounts.  Yet another reason I love my wife.

We ate dinner and came back here to Kamulu, where the power is now off.  It happens out here quite often.  Tomorrow we have a lazy departure day, since our flights are at 11:50pm.  We have nothing particular planned, but if the past few days are any guide, there will be some adventure to write about!

Pics below:

12 Oct