Kenya Red Cross -Save Kenya Appeal

Red Cross appeals for Sh1bn to help poll violence victims

Victims of post-election violence evacuated from Eldoret arrive in Nakuru town

The Kenya Red Cross Society has appealed for Sh957 million to assist 500,000 people affected by post-election violence. The amount, according to the society’s secretary general, Mr Abbas Gullet, is meant to help the victims for a month. The society will also establish a mobile clinic in the areas worst hit by the violence. Some 100,000 people have been displaced from their homes in those areas.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have offered help for the displaced. Rift Valley is the worst hit with a total of 68,620 people displaced, followed by Western Province with 29,346. Nairobi has 1,216 displaced, Nyanza 551 and Coast 346 displaced. The displaced are camping at police stations, parks and church compounds, said the society.

The Red Cross urged the international community and Kenyans of goodwill to urgently help as the humanitarian condition was threatening to get out of hand. The areas worst hit by the violence, according to the society, are Eldoret, Nandi South, Timboroa and Burnt Forest. In Burnt Forest alone 30,000 people were displaced.

The society said some towns were completely cut off due to road blocks erected by gangs.

Lorries of food 

However, nine lorries full of food have been dispatched to Eldoret, said Mr Gullet.

The society needs items like mosquito nets, paediatric drugs, body burying bags, soaps, blankets and mobilets.

Five Red Cross lorries arrived in Eldoret on Thursday night. Food distribution in the area started yesterday morning. Food was airlifted to the area through Eldoret International Airport, from where it was loaded on the trucks for distribution.

More than 10,000 families are camping at various churches and police stations in thtown as well as Kitale. Many other families have been offered passage to safer areas of Nakuru and Nairobi. They are escorted in convoys by military personnel. Their arrival of the military helped put a smile on the faces of many who were still camping at police stations and churches.

It was estimated that more than 70 people have been killed in the North Rift town. Eldoret Police Station, Wareng county council hall, the Catholic cathedral and municipal council grounds were by Friday still acting as holding grounds for those fleeing the town.

Many businessmen and professionals, including lawyers, boarded unscheduled planes from Eldoret international airport together with their families for Nairobi. The local courts remained closed while law firms, which had placed notices announcing they would open on January 2 indefinitely pushed forward their reopening dates.

Some displaced families jointly hired lorries, which ferried their household goods to safer areas. Some supermarkets reopened but controlled the number of people entering their premises at a time.

Vendors too started selling food, including bread, on the streets while women sold tomatoes, fruits and onions. Some butcheries also reopened.

Ferried passengers 

With the scarcity of commodities, prices went up by about 70 per cent. Mobile phone scratch cards were being sold at Sh140 instead of Sh100, while a Safaricom Sh50 card was going for Sh70.

Matatus (public transport) also raised fares with those plying the Eldoret-Soy route charging Sh150 instead of the normal Sh70. A few restaurants opened business but raised food prices. Bars that opened increased beer prices by 30 per cent but most were empty.

The Eldoret-Iten road, which had over 10 road blocks manned by civilians was opened up by GSU personnel.