KENYA: ELECTORAL VIOLENCE 12 June 2008 The Kenya Red Cross Society’s mission is to build capacity and respond with vigor, compassion and empathy to those affected by disaster and at risk, in the most effective and efficient manner. It works closely with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries. This Operations Update (No. 61/2008) reflects the information available at this time. • On 4th January 2008, the Kenya Red Cross Society issued a Preliminary Appeal No. 1/2008 for Ksh 957,127,906 (US$ 15.4 million) (1US$=Ksh 62) to assist 500,000 beneficiaries for one (1) month. • On 25th February 2008, the Kenya Red Cross Society issued a Revised Appeal No. 2/2008 for Ksh 1,532,556,939 (US$ 21,893,671 million) (1US$=Ksh 70) to assist 300,000 beneficiaries for eighteen (18) month. • On 21st April 2008, the Kenya Red Cross Society issued a 2nd Revised Appeal No. 3/2008 for Ksh 1,610,019,273 (US$ 25,555,861) to assist 300,000 beneficiaries for eighteen (18) months. Visit http://www.kenyaredcross.org for all the information on the above appeal narratives and budgets. For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: Mr. Abbas Gullet, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Email; [email protected] Phone 254.20.60.35.93; 254.20.3950.000 Fax 254.20.60.35.89 Dr. James Kisia, Deputy Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Email; [email protected] Phone 254.20.60.35.93; 254.20.3950.000 Fax 254.20.60.35.89 Mr. Anthony Mwangi, Public Relations Manager, Kenya Red Cross Society, Email; [email protected] Phone 254.20.60.35.93; 254.20.3950.000 Fax 254.20.60.35.89 All Kenya Red Cross Society assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning the Kenya Red Cross Society programmes or operations, or for a full description of the Society’s profile, please access the Kenya Red Cross Society Website at http://www.kenyaredcross.org or the Federation’s Website at http://www.ifrc.org Operational Summary There has been significant reduction in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country, as the resettlement exercise entered the second month. The Kenya Red Cross and other partners have been scaling down their personnel manning the IDP camps. However, emerging challenges in transit centres where IDPs have pitched camp while awaiting construction of houses, are being addressed. The Kenya Red Cross personnel assisted in rescue efforts to retrieve the remains of both the Minister for Roads Hon. Kipkalya Kones and Assistant Minister for Home Affairs in the Office of the Vice President Ms. Lorna Laboso, who died on 10th June 2008 at about 2.40pm, following a plane crush at Enosupukia, Narok. The ministers were on their way to supervise their party’s by-election exercise in Ainamoi Constituency. Reports from five constituencies that conducted by-elections on 11th June 2008 indicate that there were minimal cases of violence, especially in two constituencies. The Kenya Red Cross personnel were on high alert throughout the electioneering period. However, Kilgoris reported some violent incidences. Kenya: Electoral Violence Operations Update No. 61/2008 Situation South Rift The registration and profiling of IDPs exercise by officers from the Ministry of Special Programmes at Afraha Stadium camp entered its fourth day. Registration of family members is ongoing at Kedong camp, especially those coming back to the district. The main committee of 14 members is in place at Nakuru Showground. This includes a sub-committee of 28 members and a cluster committee of 104 members. Daily clean-up exercises are normally conducted by IDPs in Naivasha camps to reduce health hazards. Eleven students from Nakuru Showground were taken to school. Schools that absorbed the IDP students received food. The ECD classes are still ongoing at Afraha camp. Most of the IDP students from secondary schools were sent home for lack of school fees. The tented classes in Naivasha camps are going on well with one trained and two untrained teachers in charge. A number of IDPs from Kakamega and Gunyak camps are still going on with their businesses for their self sustenance. A meeting with Nakuru Showground camp manager and government officials to explain the situation of the camp to the IDPs was carried out. Youth are organizing a peace talk entitled Jirani Mwema. The talk will involve two IDP camps within Nakuru town and later a football tournament. According to PeaceNet reports, 11 people were reported attacked and seriously injured on 12th June 2008 in Kilgoris Division following the by-elections held on 11th June 2008. The report indicates that nine houses and a vehicle were torched during the fracas, while the media reported that 14 houses and one vehicle were torched. Tension is reported volatile between two communities in Kilgoris. The tension between the two communities began building late last year during the general elections. The PeaceNet report also indicates that thousands of people are reported displaced from their homes following the attack. In Ainamoi, constituency in Kericho District, although polling went on smoothly, tension was reported high in the morning when the election results were announced. Nyanza/Western Region Provincial Administration officials in Busia are still going on with registration exercise of IDPs who are willing to leave the Busia Police Station IDP camp. Some IDPs from Ekerenyo were to leave the camp to their homes. Ekerenyo and Keroka camp committees were dissolved because most IDPs have already left the camps. Meanwhile, other camp committees in Nyanza/Western Region are still operational and active. UNICEF is closely working with the Kenya Red Cross Nyanza/Western Region in education by supporting local schools and students learning in the camps through provision of books, tents etc. IDP and Camp Statistics Region IDP Camps IDP Population North Rift 37 33,608 South Rift 48 33,003 Nyanza 12 2,370 Western 4 5,887 Central 3 828 Nairobi 7 1,664 Total 111 77,360 Data as at 11th June 2008 2 Kenya: Electoral Violence Operations Update No. 61/2008 Red Cross Action – objectives and progress Goal: To provide emergency relief services to 500,000 people to mitigate the impact of post-election conflict. Objective 1: To provide Non-Food items to IDPs as a result of election violence. Progress The food distribution for integrated IDPs, which was being supervised by the Kenya Red cross together with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rachuonyo District, is complete. Food was also distributed to IDPs from Golgi who were stranded at Naivasha Stadium camp because of transport. WFP and Kenya Red Cross Nyanza/Western Region are working on a distribution plan to distribute food to IDPs still in the camps. The following non-food items were dispatched from Nyanza/Western Region warehouse destined for Nakuru: 2,000 blankets, 5,785 bar soaps and 29,038 aqua tab tabs. The following non-food items were distributed by Kenya Red Cross Public Health team: 240 sanitary towels, 1,150 aqua tabs and 600 condoms. Objective 3: Provide Restoration of Family Links Progress A Tracing volunteer travelled to Maseno to trace homes of three unaccompanied minors (UAMs) who had been registered in Uganda. Nyanza/Western Region Tracing assistant was invited to participate in the Day of an African Child celebrations marked in Kisumu town so as to share more on the Kenya Red Cross Tracing services. Objective 4: To contribute to reduction in mortality and morbidity/injuries/any form of trauma among vulnerable populations affected by post-election related violence. Progress 96 IDPs received treatment at Ekerenyo IDP camp, comprising 25 children aged below five years and the rest aged over five years. Disease morbidity was as follows: Malaria (40 cases), URTI (37) diarrhoea (17), skin infections (10) and pneumonia (4). Other diseases included: Ear infections, cut wounds, asthmatics, arthritis, skin infections, PUD, eye infections. At least 180 persons received health education with messages emphasizing: • Malezi Bora • Sanitation and general hygiene, • Safe drinking water; collection, treatment, handling and storage, • Proper excreta disposal highlighting the potential health risks of improper excreta disposal and • HIV and AIDS awareness; causes, transmission, prevention and control stressing the ABC methods. The IDPs in various camps received training on food hygiene; proper cooking, covering prepared food, personal hygiene with emphasis on hand washing before handling food and after visiting the toilet. Objective 6: To provide access to sanitation and hygiene promotion facilities for an estimated 500,000 IDPs and other post-elections affected individuals. Progress WatSan volunteers at Kakamega Police Station IDP camp are working to improve the conditions of temporary washrooms used by IDPs. Cleaning of facilities, health education reaching to 39 people, 3 Kenya: Electoral Violence Operations Update No. 61/2008 refuse collection, spraying of toilets and bathrooms formed the bulk of activities carried out at Nakuru Showground camp by WatSan team. General cleaning of the camp was done, garbage collection and late cleaning of latrines. In addition, soak pits need to be repaired as blockage and drainage is poor. In Naivasha Stadium camp, there was repairing of bathrooms, platform, water tanks, washroom drainage tunnels and unblocking of soak pits. Routine Health education, hygiene promotion and waste collection at community level is also ongoing in both Naivasha camps. Objective 7: To strengthen the logistical capacities of Kenya Red Cross Regions and Branches to enable them respond to rising emergencies effectively.