By Christina Stellini | Resource Development Volunteer
Today is August 8th: election day in Kenya. Over the past few months, the country has been abuzz as Kenyans prepare to go to the polls to elect the next President, as well as Members of Parliament. Despite a mostly peaceful 2012 election, the month-long post-election ethnic violence that erupted in 2007 across Kenya, and particularly in Kibera and other slums around Nairobi, is never a far off thought as 1,100 were killed and 650,000 displaced across the country.
With our nursery school and rescue center both situated in Kibera and with indications of another potentially violent post-election period (like the killing of a high ranking election official in July), St. Vincent’s has been working over the last months to prepare for the election and ensure that all of our children and families are safe during this time. With schools closed across the country, children from our Rescue Center have been temporarily placed with extended families or housed outside of Kibera by a church group that supports St. Vincent’s. They will return once it is deemed safe for them to do so. Meanwhile, our Nursery School closed operations at the end of July, giving time for families to leave Kibera (most returning “up country” to their family homes) in advance of the election. The school will re-open in September, according to the Ministry of Education calendar, and pending the security of Kibera following today’s election.
In addition to making preparations for our children, St. Vincent’s took the opportunity to discuss the elections during a school “open day” (or parent’s day) last week with our community. Here, our Director, Lucy Kayiwa, engaged parents/caregivers in a discussion about the election to give them the opportunity to share their feelings and fears, as well as to reiterate the importance of avoiding violence and keeping their children protected during this potentially insecure time.
We are hopeful for a peaceful election process here in Kibera and across the country.
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