5 January Update from Dave Zavala

The riots have started again as protesters made their way to the huge rally scheduled in the Nairobi City Center. The last few days have been filled with tension for everyone here in Kenya. The new Year has been filled with sadness here. On January 2nd 2008, as early as 8 am people from all over Nairobi started walking towards Uhuru Park (freedom park) in support of the opposition leader, Raila Odinga's demonstrating against the president.

The public was informed about this demonstration, it was called the "Million Man March" (all the opposition leader's supporters were invited to show up at the park at 2pm wearing black arm bands) & the message that Raila & his ODM party were going to convey to the world was the " Death of Democracy in Kenya."

As I had heard about this Demonstration and all the insecurities that could come along with it. I decided that our team should remain at home and nobody could come in from the out side. I received a phone call from one of my church members who lives in Kibera slums that the people were all marching towards the city center. As we watched the news unfold, we learned that all over Nairobi people were walking to the city center to get to Uhuru park & the police were throwing tear gas at them as the president had banned the demonstration & the Rally.

Within hours, chaos erupted all over Nairobi, there was looting, burning of houses & the African Inland Church of Kenya was burnt down. Many people were injured as a result. This was also happening in all other areas of Kenya. Later that Afternoon as the opposition leaders marched into the city, they were stopped by the Police & so they decided to have a demonstration every day until the president confesses to rigging the votes during the elections & they want to have another presidential election within the next 3 months.

Today However some businesses re-opened in Nairobi & things seemed to have calmed down though you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. The number of demonstrators who marched to the city center today were less in number but the police continued to throw tear gas at them & dispersed them, this mayhem is to continue tomorrow as well.

As of yesterday the number of dead has risen to over 350. There are over 180,000 people all over the country who have lost homes & are staying in churches, hospitals, and police stations for shelter. A top UN official in Nairobi says about 500,000 Kenyans need urgent help. As there is a massive food shortage in the country, food prices have sky rocketed making it unaffordable to the poor people of Kenya (which is the case with most of our Calvary Chapel Nairobi church congregates) thousands are starving! I received phone calls from my own church members saying that they haven't eaten in days. Please continue praying for the people of Kenya.

Its our humble request that you would prayerfully consider sending finances to buy some food and supplies for our hungry congregation. A gift of $75 per person would be helpful and this would feed and supply their basic needs for 5 to 6 days we are trying to help about 70 congregates, some with families and some with children. Please make check out to, Saving Grace World Missions and write, Kenya Relief, on the memo line.

Pastor Dave & Twinkle Zavala