UPDATE: Feb. 26, 2008 - The affected Compassion child development centers previously mentioned have enjoyed a time of calm recently. Though tension remains high in some areas, centers are now accessible and activities have resumed.

However, parents of Compassion-assisted children are still hesitant to send their children to the centers, so attendance is relatively low. The ramifications of the violence are deeply felt by the children.

Compassion Kenya is steadily decreasing relief interventions, as Kenyans begin to settle back into their normal routines and lives.

Currently, Compassion is offering disaster response training and equipment for affected child development centers, as well as providing post-trauma counseling for children and families in all the affected centers. Reconstruction on houses, churches and classrooms is also in progress.

Chief mediator, Kofi Annan, has stated that Kenyans could soon realize short-term solutions to current political crisis in the country. He has indicated that progress is being made following the talks to resolve the political stalemate.

Compassion Kenya will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.

Compassion International will contact you directly if your sponsored child has been affected.

Prayer requests for the children, families, church partners and staff in Kenya.

UPDATE: Feb. 15, 2008 - Today nearly a thousand Compassion-assisted children and their families crowd into refugee camps throughout Kenya. They should be getting ready to begin a new school year. Instead, they cling to their mothers' skirts, fearful of the men who carry machetes and torches. Few understand this tribal warfare that is ripping Kenya apart. But they all understand that now there are no blankets and there is no food and water. Here are just a few of their stories.

UPDATE: Feb. 11, 2008 - Read an interview with Sidney Muisyo, Compassion Kenya country director.

UPDATE: Feb. 8, 2008 - Compassion Kenya reports that in the early days of the violence two child development centers in the Kibera slum, where much of the violence has been situated, experienced substantial damage.

PCEA Emmanuel Church Child Development Center (KE-916) incurred the most damage when a section of the building's roof was destroyed, the pastor's house razed, office facilities completely burned, and all office furniture and property looted. 

In PCEA Silanga Church Child Development Center (KE-912), the fence was destroyed, music equipment looted, and two classrooms completely burned down.

UPDATE: Feb. 6, 2008 - Local church leaders are meeting with local political and tribal factions to discuss an end to the violence. Compassion Kenya staff are working with other organizations, such as the Red Cross, to locate displaced families and provide for their needs.

If displaced families begin returning to their ancestral homes to escape the tribal tensions, Compassion children will have to transfer between child development centers to continue receiving assistance, or may leave the sponsorship program if they move to non-Compassion areas.

For some internally displaced persons, the lack of free movement is inhibiting their access to medical care and education; 150 Compassion-assisted families in Nakuru are being sheltered in a displaced persons tent.

Compassion partnership facilitators have made arrangements for displaced children who lack access to schools to attend other schools until the violence ends. Education efforts in Kisumu Nyanza have been suspended as thousands of children are not attending school because they are afraid of being attacked and because of the lack of teachers and damaged school facilities.

Compassion child development centers offices are opening, when deemed safe, to distribute humanitarian aid.

The following child development centers have also been disrupted by the ongoing violence.

• FGCK Ololulunga Child Development Center (KE-589)
• KAG Oloroito Child Development Center (KE-599)
• ACK Rongai Child Development Center (KE-610)
• Mahaya Child Development Center (KE-805)
• St. Paul's Ranalo Child Development Center (KE-807)
• Lweya Child Development Center (KE-808)
• Nyagoko Child Development Center (KE-809)

UPDATE: Jan. 28, 2008 - The political violence in Kenya continues despite mediation efforts, and a recession now grips the country. The threat of famine looms because of a drought and the difficulty in transporting food through the violent areas.

Five more Compassion child development centers have been affected by the unrest.

• KAG Free-Area Child Development Center (KE-322)
• Child of Destiny Child Development Center (KE-357)
• AIC Lochorai Child Development Center (KE-725)
• AGC Engashura Child Development Center (KE-750)
• PCEA Elburgon Faith Child Development Project (KE-906)

Compassion Kenya is working to address the immediate, intermediate and long-term needs of the affected families, including reconstruction of businesses and homes, post-trauma counseling, income creation and crisis management and disaster preparedness training.

UPDATE: Jan. 8, 2008 - The political violence in Kenya has now affected a total of 34 child development centers. Many of the centers are located in the slums – melting pots of tribal diversity – which place Compassion-assisted families in the middle of the violence.  

Compassion Kenya reports that hundreds of Compassion-assisted families and children have been affected and whole communities have been displaced by the turmoil, as property has been destroyed, looted or vandalized.

Compassion Kenya is providing medical aid and counseling, while working with other agencies to help families who aren't part of a Compassion child development center. Compassion Kenya is also disbursing funds for relief supplies, including food and blankets. But 11 of the centers are currently inaccessible, and the children and parents are receiving support from the government and other agencies.

Compassion Kenya is working with our church partners to assess needs for additional support to include rebuilding of classrooms and houses, school supplies for children, and bedding and mattresses.

At the present time, we do not have a list of affected children as the situation has not stabilized. Operations at all the affected centers have been temporarily suspended.

Additional affected centers include: 

• Episcopal St. Peters Cathedral Child Development Center (KE-313)
• Maamba EAPC Child Development Center (KE-330)
• Mzambarauni EAPC Child Development Center (KE-335)
• Mwatundo EAPC Child Development Center (KE-336)
• Pentecostal Assemblies of God Narok Child Development Center (KE-591)
• KAG Narok Child Development Center (KE-593)
• A.C.K. St. Mathews Child Development Center (KE-640)
• AIC Kiambiu Child Development Center (KE-727)
• AIC Limuru Town Child Development Center (KE-728)
• G.N.C.A. Mtongwe Child Development Center (KE-740)
• PCEA Baraka Church Child Development Center (KE-910)

Please pray for the safety and comfort of Compassion staff, families and children in Kenya.

Compassion Kenya will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.

Compassion International will contact you if your sponsored child has been affected.

UPDATE: Jan. 3, 2008 - We have received reports identifying 23 Compassion child development centers located in areas affected by violence from riots. All centers still remain closed for the holidays. 

Despite the circumstances, Compassion Kenya is making every effort to obtain specific child and family information when possible. Sidney Muisyo, Kenya's Country Director, reports that specifics should be forthcoming soon, assuming the situation stabilizes. 

The following church projects have reported violence in their areas:

• KAG Mlango Kubwa Child Development Center (KE-320)
• KAG Emmanuel Child Development Center (KE-321)
• Mathare Community Outreach Child Development Center (KE-355)
• Deliverance Church Child Development Center (KE-356) 
• Deliverance Church Likoni Child Development Center (KE-358)
• K.P.C. Amalemba Child Development Center (KE-362)
• Korogocho Child Development Center (KE-371)
• R.G.C. Huruma Child Development Center (KE-372)
• Mathare Child Development Center (KE-373)
• Kibera Church of God Child Development Center (KE-423)
• Church of God Kongowea Child Development Center (KE-424)
• Changamwe Baptist Church Child Development Center (KE-500)
• Kongowea Baptist Church Child Development Center (KE-502)
• Kiembeni Child Development Center (KE-504)
• Ushindi Baptist Child Development Center (KE-505) 
• Victoria Baptist Church Child Development Center (KE-506)
• Dandora Baptist Child Development Center (KE-528)
• St. Andrew's ACK Soweto Child Development Center (KE-642)
• ACK Manyatta Child Development Center (KE-806)          
• ACK St. Peter's Maraba Child Development Center (KE-819) 
• PCEA Mathare North Church Child Development Center (KE-911) 
• PCEA Silanga Church Child Development Center (KE-912)
• PCEA Emmanuel Church Child Development Center (KE-916) 

The situation in Kenya continues to be monitored closely, and communication with Compassion leadership is ongoing in order to make consultative decisions as needed. Please continue praying.  

Jan. 2, 2008 - Nairobi has been experiencing a rise in the amount and intensity of riots this week. The recent political elections have caused many concerns from various groups. Media have been ordered not to broadcast live feed to avoid inflaming passions further, but otherwise are free to air information.

Currently, church and political leaders are working to bring the tension down and foster some sort of constructive dialogue. It is a positive and significant step that could help reduce violence in the next few days, though the opposition is calling for a peaceful rally Thursday.

At this stage, we do not have any information regarding the status of Compassion-assisted children or church partner staff. All projects had closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays, so there were no programs running in any of the partnerships. Children and staff members are at their homes. Note that it is still the school holiday season and all schools are on recess until next week.

All Kenya staff members are safe. 

Please pray for peace and safety of all Compassion staff, church partners, families and children in Kenya. 

Compassion Kenya will provide updates as information becomes available. 

Compassion International will contact you if your sponsored child has been affected.