10 signs to watch out in a violent person

The crocodile tears should not mislead anyone to think the same person will never repeat violence acts. Forgive once, learn the second time and prevent a third repeat. The first time might be a mistake, the second and third can’t be mistakes. It's a habit that defines the person. Read More

Overweight isn't a moral failure

The article: Fat women, let's tackle this elephant in the room on Daily Nation by my good friend Njoki Chege seem to have caused indignation from some Kenyans. The social media reactions had both curses and praises in equal measures. I think a society like ours needs someone who is ready to stand and trumpet the truth as it is, and Njoki never fails in that regard. Read more

"Dead Beat" is not the answer to responsibility question.

My usual search for information over the weekend, helped me discover a Facebook page called Dead Beat Kenya that has been trending in Kenya. It had topped more than 134,000 likes, in just a week of its existence. The sensational header would lead anyone to have an interest in reading what the page entails. Read More...

Wealth withering away men 

In what has sent shock-waves across the country, the woman claimed that her husband could win an award for popping beer bottles and entertaining other women, rather than provide for his family. Frustration of being the ‘everything at home’ led the wife to hatch a plot to terminate his life. All intended to reap from his real estate property and wealth. Read more

Mandela 'murdered'

A couple of days ago on Friday 14th June, 2013 one of globally renown media outlet Deutsche Welle commonly refered to as DW, published in its news website- ‘South Africa Mourns Mandela’  under a lead Orbituary to Mandela. The news was quickly shared on social media and attracted thousands of condolence comments to one of world most celebrated icon of our time. DW had just...Editorial

Reformers act in an extraordinary way

Sometime in 1976, a mother walking along the streets of Belfast in company of her four children found herself in precarious life threatening situation. A car lost control and ran-over her children leaving them for dead. Only... Writing for Change

Time up for facebook impersonators

Facebook has launched verified Pages to help people find the authentic accounts of celebrities and other high-profile people and businesses on Facebook. Verified Pages have a small blue tick mark on  their timeline. Verified pages will only appear for (celebrities, journalists, government officials, popular brands and businesses) with large audiences. People being impersonated can report to Report fake accounts.

Technology is like a knife… 

Friday 17 May 2013 Geneva, The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) closed curtains, after five days discussions around telecommunication and innovations trends. The 2013 forum held in Geneva, Switzerland from 13-17 May, brought together more than 1,800 participants from 140 countries which included the academia, governments, civil societies and private sectors... Technology news

Poor to treat cancer

Monday, 22 April, 2013- Meet Ester Wanjira (30) a resident of Kayole slum in Nairobi Kenya, facing a hard time to find treatment for a lump on her breast due to poverty. Like many other women living in informal settlements, her life is on the edge and she is slowly dying...Writing for change

Create beds for MRC at the National Archive

Create beds for MRC at the National Archive

Nairobi, Kenya, 20th October, 2012 -In his last Mashujaa Day celebrations as the third president of Kenya; President Mwai Kibaki advised, “Let us [Kenyans] learn from history and not distort it.” Mushrooming groups both in Kenya and Tanzania calling for secession are driven by ignorance and government need to support MRC to access... Editorial

Enemy is within not in Somali

As I read in the media, reports on Kenya military advancement inside Somali in hot pursuit of al Shabab militia group that has disrupted the good night sleep for many in the government. Seems like a dream or sort of illusion owing to the historical facts about Kenya, once praised as an oasis of peace in the midst of region riddled with turmoil. We may still be peaceful despite some teething elements that caused 1,200 lives and displaced 350,000 after the 2007/2008 general election.

Let’s face it. Why are we at war with Somalis Al Shabab? Could we have prevented what seems to now be the greatest threat? It does not require rocket science to understand that in 1989 we only had 900,000 Somalis living in Kenya; that our 2010 census results were delayed after indications that the Somalis numbers in Kenya had risen by 140% mainly through nationalization.

My discourse should not be perceived as a campaign opposed to Somalis or settlement of any other nationals in Kenya but rather redirect the bullet hole to point us for failure to address the flaw migration rules that make us prone to eminent attacks. Ousting of Mr. Siad Barre as president of Somali in 1991 after ruling for more than 20 years marked the beginning of woos. Somali has been in anarchy matched with clan fights, warlordism and violence. Such violence force away fellow countrymen and women from their country to Daadab and Kakuma refugee camps.

Spanish aid workers abduction triggered the war we face with Al Shabab in Daadab refugees. Whereas It is an uphill task to identify individual suspected militia who for a fact are not branded on their foreheads with Al Shabab marks. The undertone from the network statement on eminent attacks in Nairobi makes me believe the enemy is here among us in Nairobi’s -Eastleigh, South B, South C… They are present in our supermarkets, football stadium they use our transport facilities and more so are in Kenya on our invitation and lax system.

One might argue that they are citizens with all relevant documents authenticated by possession of national ID cards, land title deeds or even travelling passports. The number one enemy is not the Somalis but our system and people we pay using our taxes who betray the country and sell it for egocentric benefits. The enemy worth bombarding with heavy artillery is immigration officials who receive bribes at our board points, issue passports and ID’s to foreigners hence granting visa and access for the enemies to destabilize our peace. The second most wanted enemy deserving life imprisonment are the policemen and women who receive bribes from arrested illegal immigrants and ultimately postpone their deportation. The invasion and total war should also be directed to our capitalist culture of placing monetary benefits ahead of our security and peace concerns a fact that has eroded our nationalism and patriotism and allowed sell of our properties to foreigners only to remain as squatters in our own country.

Former US president Bill Clinton advice should be loud enough to our leaders and those charged with national responsibility. He once said that ‘If one lives long enough, one make mistakes. But if one learns from them, one becomes a better person’. Similarly we should collectively acknowledge the mistakes of the past bribes and exchange of money for national document and embrace patriotic values by using similar offense to combat corruption that has exposed us to such threats.

The forgotten urban vulnerable haunted by HIV and AIDS

Nairobi, Kenya- Meet Doris Timbwa Mikaye a mother of five children who met face-to-face with the dreaded HIV and AIDS which claimed life’s of all her daughters. At 64, Doris has encountered pain, frustration, sorrow and rejection owing to a condition she never invited to her home. “I have buried all my children, now I have grand and great grand to look after”- lamented Doris.

Doris lives in a single room in Korogocho slums, Nairobi; a room constructed for her by a local church. Though, without cement on the floor, the room provides shelter for her family in times of rain and scotching sun. She has no other home after she was chased by her husband many years ago for not bearing a son. “That’s where I call home, though its only a room”.

She is perceived by both her neighbours and family as a cursed person, owing to the string of misfortunes that have befallen her family. Her life characterized with rough terrains, deaths of loved ones and rejection by her immediate family is just some of agony she narrates.

Doris first born daughter (who we will call Catherine- not real name) succumbed to HIV and AIDS in 1988 at a time that little was known about the pandemic “people could not move closer to her or touch her. She faced real stigma” narrated Doris. On knowing her status, Catherine was chased by her husband’s family. They accused her of promiscuity. She collapsed and died on her return to Kenya from Tanzania where she lived with her husband; Catherine left behind three children of 9,7 and 3 years. The husband equally rejected all the three children.

Mama Doris took over the task of being both the mother and the father for her grand children. One of Catherine’s youngest son, later became a success story and was admired by many in their Korogocho settlement. He played football for the famous Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) and travelled around the globe as a result of his talents. “I held high expectation of him” said Doris.
Fate robbed him from me…

One fateful February in 2010, while returning home in Korogocho, Godfrey whose lifestyle had started improving was attacked by un-known men who stabbed him to death. An incident Doris believed “they attacked him because of his changed lifestyle”.

His death meant more burdens to the grandmother, since he left behind two children. Catherine’s eldest son a dumb would be do all sorts of work to earn money. “People took advantage of his condition…he transported guns in the slum for five shillings”-lamented the granny. Mama Doris later relocated his grandson to Tanzania after she feared for her life.

Living in Korogocho slums presents challenges and exposes many teenagers to vulnerable condition. Poverty bites hard, crime rate is in high proportions and drug abuse the order of the day.


More burials awaited mama Doris
Mama Doris second daughter, Dovina also stayed with the mother in Korogocho slums prior to her death in 1992. She conceived her first child while in class seven and sat for her examination their after. “We only saw signs on her…didn’t know what ailed her” said Doris.

“I became worried for both my daughter and her 5 year old son. Dovina used to cough a lot”-narrated Doris. She took them to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where Dovina was diagnosed positive for the HIV virus, while that of her son was negative. “KNH refused to admit her…I returned home with her and she later died at home”.

“I never used protection, while taking care of my daughters”.
Dovina’s son today lives in Mukuru and engages in collecting garbage. He could be referred to as a ‘chokora’ (Kenyan name for street children who loiter and have no home).
Child finished few days and died

As Mama Doris continue narrating her story, I admire her courage and hope in the midst of turmoil she has encountered. She recalls one of her other daughter- Kesiah who lived in Kisumu before she moved to stay with her. Kesiah conceived the first child who lived for few days and died. She later got another baby who died before her first birthday after succumbing to meningitis.

“No one knew she was living with the HIV virus”- said Doris. Her boyfriend a tout on matatus plying Kisumu-Kakamega route committed suicide after word went round about Kesiah’s HIV status. “A doctor came home to treat her”.

During the early days of HIV and AIDS pandemic, People Living with HIV and AIDS stayed at home since bed capacities in many hospitals was hard to come-by. That resulted into shift of the Home Based Care (HBC) designed to cater for those who ailed at home.

Mama Doris explained that Kesiah’s condition improved due to medication she took. “She looked healthy that no one would suspect she lived with the HIV virus”. Doris lamented, that Kesiah would have been alive today, if she (Doris) knew how to care for PLWHA’s and started taking Anti-Retroviral (ARV) medication on time.

Burying her children has been normal in a society predominantly with cultural beliefs that the children should bury their parents and not vice versa. She has buried all her children and some grandchildren from HIV related complications. All her son-in-laws have either died or rejected their children; living her with an uphill task of fending for them in an urban set-up which is alive with enormous challenges especially for women her age.

At 64, Doris plays the role of a father and a mother to six grand and great-grand children who all look to her for food, shelter, clothing and education. “I do small businesses…wash school which pays me” she said. Our Lady of Fatuma in Korogocho where some of her grand children and great grand children school, provides her with jobs which guarantees meals for the family. She depends on well wishers and her church to feed the children.

“I collect food left- over from school feeding program…that assures a family meal”.

They believe am a bother

“The community don’t want me, they stigmatize me…they believe am a bother”-lamented Doris. Her own family flesh and blood do not want any association with her. She did not get a son and same applied to her mother. “My father a polygamist…his co-wives with sons took over our plot. My father is old, cannot do anything”- narrated Doris.

For many women like Doris who have seen the dark sides of HIV pandemic, God’s Grace is sufficient even as she struggles with her own life and that of her only relatives.The impact of HIV and AIDS in Africa and especially among the urban vulnerable is real with number of orphan’s sky-rocketing.

The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) jointly with UNHABITAT recently held a workshop In Naivasha, Kenya attended by members of the ACT Alliance in Kenya; deliberated on the plight of the urban vulnerable.

A document presented at the meeting read “There is a humanitarian crisis taking place in deprived informal settlements around the world, and one of the regions where this dynamic is playing out is in Kenya” The document further warned that- “Urban poverty is set to be Kenya’s defining crisis over the next decade if it is not urgently addressed. Urban population living in slums is expected to double in the next 15 years due to rural-urban migration”.

Kenya has over 4 million urban food poor and almost a third of this number is located in Nairobi. Over 200 informal settlements in Nairobi cover only 5 per cent of the total residential land area of the city and 60 per cent of Nairobi’s population live in slums.

Holding pen transforming Maasai women
Kajiado, Kenya April, 2010- On a Sunday afternoon in the heart of Kajiado district which inhabits the Maasai community, women converge in a classroom each armed with tools aimed at transforming their lives. All are eager to hold correctly pen and scribble their names. “My eleven year old daughter and teachers have been very helpful in my education” narrated Margaret Gideon Komeiyan one of the beneficiary of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC) women literacy program.
Margaret (29) started attending the KELC adult education program in 2009 after motivation from one of his educated brother. “I used to admire him a lot when he came home for holidays…he would encourage me to learn”- she narrated. Many Maasai women her age were forced into early marriage. She got married off at 11 years. Educating girls among the Maasai community is not given preference as that of boys; a trend quickly changing thanks to literacy programme initiated by the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran church.
Started in 1998 by support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), KELC women Literacy program reach out to more than 300 women and girls in marginalized areas mainly occupied by Maasai community. Further boost of the program came in 2004 with funds from the division of ELCA World Hunger which helped train more teachers and additional classes in other areas.
Currently 37 adult educators have been trained and run the program as volunteers. “I want to see my community change”-stressed Beatrice Rimanto one of the adult education volunteer at the Kajiado centre. The Kenya National Literacy Survey indicates that 7.8 million people in Kenya are illiterate (mostly women) and the national literacy level stands at 61.5%.
Despite commitment and interest to learn, many women are faced with gender-roles that challenge their frequent class attendance. “Absenteeism is rampant, their concentration in class gets interrupted …some come with young children”- lamented Beatrice. Many walk up to 20 kilometers in order to attend class, which at times is called off, since they share same facilities with other students in the school. Some are overwhelmed and discontinue their learning. “I share examples of people who have made it and encourage them to attend school daily” said Beatrice.
Besides basic education, women are educated on their Rights to challenge negative cultures such as early marriages and Female Genital Cut both common practice among the Maasai community.

Education eradicating poverty
The traditional women’s spare time beading activity has been over-taken by pursuit for education especially in the Ilparua area of Kajiado. A shift that proves equally beneficial to many who have established businesses from the basic knowledge of mathematics, Kiswahili and English taught in class. “I used to give all my business money to my husband…didn’t know if I made profit or not”- lamented one student in the class. On contrary, she now manages her own business and is able to determine profits margins. Poverty levels among the women in Kajiado has reduced owing to literacy levels and ability to manage own businesses. Their motivation and determination in education has resulted in opening bank accounts which they run without any help. “I used to use thump print at bank, this days, I sign my name”-smiled Mary.
The impact of Adult education in Kajiado is also felt by the local pastor. “The women have increased their offerings threefold, we now receive thrice what we used to”-said Samuel Ntatuya Evangelist heading Kajiado mission. A fact he attributes to training women on book keeping and their commitment to paying 10% tithe.
With the shortage of church workers in KELC, women with reading and writing skills come handy as church laypersons; they participate in worship service by reading bible verses.
“My life has changed, I can offer my children what I missed (good education) and nurture them spiritually by reading the bible” said Margaret a mother of three.

Challenge in realization of literacy decade
The United Nation Literacy Decade proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001 runs from 2003-2012 and has strong commitments to reaffirm role of literacy in development. To realize the literacy decade priorities were set on illiterate youth and adults especially women, out-of school children especially girls and children in school without access to quality learning.
Though Kenya is not a beneficiary of UNLD Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) program which runs in 35 countries with illiterate people below 50%; two-third of illiterate people in Kenya are women and girls, who influence development both in the family level and community at large.
KELC Literacy program face enormous challenges in the journey towards literacy for all women. “We (KELC) have trained adult educators but are unable to employ them due to funds”-lamented Alice Mwaringa KELC Women’s co-ordinator. “During rainy season, women are forced to work in farms at the expense of their education” Noted Alice.
She added that access to reading materials and books for adult learns hinder survival of the literacy program in KELC. The road to realization of literacy is made even tough by patriarchal communities such as that of the Maasai. Alice lamented that men in such communities deny their wives opportunity to attend literacy classes opposed to the wishes of their wives. Literacy among women may be elusive if collaborative efforts are not put in place to address the challenges inhibiting success on Free Education for All.

Torn Between Two Extremes

“We have been burying people [elderly men] who have committed suicide due to the current drought…they have lost hope with deaths of their sole livelihood [livestock],” lamented Mr. Kulei, a church elder at the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kajiado, Kenya.

“One of the deceased was not sick. He only looked at the carcasses and collapsed.”

The Maasai people (mainly pastoralists) have been on the move in search of pasture and grazing land for their livestock. “We have not received adequate rains for the last 4 years,” noted Kulei. “Our people [Maasai] have been out for long duration, covering thousands of kilometers to ensure the survival of livestock,” said Kulei. Villagers in Lodokelani, Orkekoyore, Eldamat, and Matopato have buried many people. One pastoralist formerly had a herd of 2,000 cattle, and now only has 10 remaining. “Livestock that succumb to drought are abandoned as the rest move in search for pasture.”

The current drought has caused the migration of Maasai pastoralists across the border to Tanzania in search of pasture and grazing land. Mr. David Kasino was once the proud owner of a hundred cattle worth USD 2,600. He now has less than 10 cattle and is still pessimistic of their survival because most are quite weak.

The Kenya Meteorological Department issued an alert on the impending El Niño rains and predicted the rains would last from the month of October 2009 until February 2010. For people in Kajiado and larger eastern parts of Kenya, that has yet to occur. It is an area that suffers from perennial drought due to climate change, which has resulted in crop failure. Many believe El Niño rains will be the only hope for thousands who live in despair each day as they come to terms with the deaths of their livestock (their only source of livelihood).

Women and children stay at home as their male counterparts’ criss-cross the country in search of pasture. With many of these journeys, it is sometimes more than three months before they return home. The absence of men in the villages compel women also to leave home and engage in small-micro enterprise activities in order to meet family food demands. “We travel long distances to sell charcoal… at times we don’t make any sell, so we all sleep hungry”-narrated Janet Rampei.

The Lutheran church runs a kindergarten that caters to 53 children left at home with no care giver. “We used to provide them with porridge and two meals, but now its difficult…we give them nothing, only teach,” lamented Sheila Rebesa, a volunteer at the nursery school. “Their concentration in class is low…some fall asleep due to hunger,” added Rebesa. With support from her husband Sheila is able to work at the kindergarten (without pay). “If the current drought continues…my husband may not be able to support me to continue working for free…I may leave and supplement his efforts.”

Women engage in difficult tasks, such as burning and selling charcoal. “We have no alternative apart from burning charcoal…though we know the environmental dangers,” said Janet Rampei. “If we do not do anything, our children will die from starvation.”

Children, some as young as 4 years old, travel 18 kilometers to attend classes at the Lutheran church. The church has been unable to provide food rations for the school, forcing the school staff to depend on well wishers and hand outs.

In the coastal areas and northeastern sectors of the country, the scenario is quite different. El Niño rains continue to cause havoc, with floods destroying the infrastructure and saturating prepared land. “It has been raining for the last 24 hours…Malindi-Garissa road has been swept off,” read a text message from a pastor in Tana River. In a telephone conversation with Peter Jilo, a government administrator stationed in Kulesa, Tana River, he related, “We need plastic sheets to cover leaking houses and chlorine for water treatment.”

Tana River at the coast has, traditionally, been a hot spot for flooding in Kenya as the River Tana overflows its banks. In 1998, 1,200 people lost their lives due to the El Niño event and the rains that pounded the area.

In Magarini District, along the coast, more than 500 families have been displaced due to heavy rains and flash floods. The rains have swept away houses and livestock, and flooded cultivated fields. The people of the Magarini District area are also worried about an increase in waterborne diseases, and are in desperate need of clean water.

ACT Kenya Forum members have been faced with the two extremes- parts of the country are facing severe drought and others are experiencing above-normal rains and flooding. The Forum partnered with UN-OCHA and the Government of Kenya to produce a community awareness brochure distributed to areas likely to be affected by the El Niño rains.

In March 2009, AKF members put out an appeal in response to the severe drought and famine that is currently affecting Kenya. However, the situation within the country has changed, and Kenya is now suffering from flooding as well. After a meeting on November 5th, forum members agreed that the heavy rains and flooding now occurring throughout the country also need to be addressed. The forum will meet again on November 19th to review assessment reports, and decide whether the members should submit an ACT Appeal to address the two extreme conditions - severe drought and flood - that are both currently affecting Kenya.

Article by George Arende, contribution from Nicole Stansifer



The ACT Kenya Forum (AKF) meets each month to give updates and discuss issues affecting Kenya. The current members of the AKF include: the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK), the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), Dan Church Aid (DCA), Christian Aid (CAid), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Church World Service (CWS).

peace summit logo

Women united against drought

Women united against drought

6th February 2009 Kitui, Kenya- Women in Kaikungu village came out in large numbers to provide the much needed ‘woman power’ to complete the community sand dam. One hundred and twenty women mobilize ballast, break stones, mix concrete, fetch water and transport construction materials to the site, all in the hope of stopping a chain of drought that has affected the community for more than a decade.

“We are grateful to many things (water projects) church world service has been starting in our community” Kitui Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop Mule said, in appreciative tone. “This is great love”- he added.

Church World Service launched a fundraising initiative to respond to the drought situation in Kenya threatening with starvation lives of more than 2 million people. Church World Service through its local partners have constructed sad dams, drilled bore holes in drought affected areas to provide water.

“we are pleased to walk with you in search of water” said the visiting Community Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) team leader from US. “we walk so you can have water”.

The water project has brought hope to a community which has been reduced to begging due to lack of water for irrigating their kitchen gardens. “Church World Service has brought us far, we now have hope with water near us” said Regina Ibrahim Kaikungu sand dam umbrella chairperson. The drought situation presents a livelihood challenge to most women and children in the area. “With water, we can plant our sukuma (kales) and stop begging” said Regina, with optimism.

The community participates actively in other government projects in what is commonly referred to as ‘food for work’ though the government relief is not sufficient to their needs, it contributes into changing the community once infected with deadly ‘dependency syndrome’ to relief supplies. Kaikungu health centre and Nzauni health centre are living evidence of a community hard work. Though the women are dedicated in breaking the drought chain, poverty threatens to reverse those gains.

Crop failure and high prices of fertilizers have compounded the drought situation in Kitui and larger Ukambani areas of Eastern province. Logging of trees, for charcoal and draining sand from rivers have all contributed to the drought in the area. “lets plant trees after the completion of sand dam” urged Mary Obiero Church World Service Socio Economic Development Programs Coordinator .

ACT International member Church World Service through the local partners Anglican Church or Kenya, Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church distributed food relief to the residents of Kaikungu and visited new sand dam construction accompanied with CROP walkers team involved in fundraising in the US.

Siren over drought situation.

Drought situation in Kenya is worsening and the president has a few hours ago declared the drought a national disaster. In his speech the president blamed the drought on failure of short rains, effects of the post-election violence which affected the planting season, global energy crisis which has fueled high prices of fertilizers and global food crisis which has incapacitated thousands to afford food prices.

The president noted that drought situation had resulted in shortfall of 10 million bags resulting in further reduction of National grain reserves by 3.3million bags.

While underlining the impact of global food crisis, the president noted that 'staple foods of most Kenyans have risen sharply in one year...affecting the poorest'.

He lamented that 10 million Kenyans face starvation and urgently need emergency support and made an appeal while emphasizing that 'between now and August 2009 people will not be able to meet minimum food requirements'.

'my government will not tolerate the actions of unscrupulous traders sacrificing people livelihood at altar of private gain of few people' said the president in his concluding warning to business cartels manipulating food chain in Kenya.

Kenya has been facing series of crisis one after the other. Its only in December 2007 after the disputed general election that violence broke out killing 1,200 people and displacing more than 300,000 people. Kenya also records the a wider gap between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. In almost all crisis, its women and children who suffer most the consequences of delayed mitigation.

My recent visit to drought stricken areas of Ukambani, Makindu, Kutui (all in the eastern parts of Kenya) left me wondering how delayed actions can quickly trigger emergency. women travel 10 kilometers every morning to fetch water. such lone journey(s) demand that they rise-up as early as 3am or 4am in lucky cases if they expect to have their children eat breakfast before school. One woman narrated to me how she was raped by a gang of men while on such trips; ruining her life and infecting her with the deadly HIV virus.

Provision of water for all would avert GBV and ensure irrigation in dry areas prone to drought. Crop failure will be a thing of the past and human suffering buried in the 'forgotten grave'.

Call to an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe on January 25, 2009


The 9th General Assembly held in Maputo, Mozambique in December 2008 gave the African churches a strong mandate to continue their longstanding accompaniment of the Church and people of Zimbabwe. The Assembly declared January 25th an African Day of prayer for Zimbabwe. The call is to join our Zimbabwean sisters and brothers in prayer and in fasting, in words and in deeds, in contemplation and in action.

As AACC we therefore call on all our member churches, councils, fellowships and institutions; all friends in the ecumenical worldwide family; all our international partners and all people of good will to make January 25, 2009, an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe.

Trumpet call to Pray and Fast
“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet” Isaiah 58:1

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cord of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am.” Isaiah 58:6-9.

Calling for a Special Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe is first and foremost a call for all of us to come to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with a humble heart, in sincere love, spending time with him to get in tune with His sovereign plans and visions for his people and for the world. It’s about allowing Him to speak and to share His heart that bleeds for the suffering of our world. It’s about allowing Him to convince us to be part of his plan and be willing to act as instruments for his Kingdom - a kingdom of fellowship, peace, justice and reconciliation for anyone who respond to the invitation by Jesus: Come unto me!


Indeed it is a time of need for Zimbabwe
• The cholera epidemic continues to spread. 37,000 have contracted the disease and 1,800 have died (Jan 12). The health system has broken down.
• There is shortage of food.
• The schools have not been able to run properly due to the financial and social crisis.
• Political violence and intimidation continues.
• The power-sharing deal of September 15, 2008 has not been honoured and talks have stalled due to lack of sincerity and political will.
• Official inflation (July 08) was 231 million % but continues to rise by the day. The newly issued 50$bn bill only buys the owner a few loafs of bread.
• The numbers of political, social and economic refugees crossing the borders to the neighbouring countries are increasing continuously.

In all this the AACC acknowledges that the present crisis primarily is a crisis of legitimacy and governance. As stated by the 9th AACC General Assembly in Maputo on December 11, the present rule must be considered as illegitimate as it was an incomplete reflection of the will of the Zimbabwean people, given that the presidential run-off election in June 2008 was not free and fair and was marred by intimidation and political violence. The Zimbabwean people have also continuously been denied the peace, justice and socio-economic remedy they have for so long desired.

May the Lord grant Zimbabwe light to break forth like the dawn and healing to quickly appear. May the Lord bless us all as we Pray, Fast for the end to the political crisis and resumption of normalcy in the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.

T-shirts made for 2008 World AIDS Day commemoration