Photo via mnnonline.org

Kenya's tribal tensions are tackled in by Christians

Kenya's new coalition government is being put to the test.

A power-sharing deal signed in February put an end to the riots, which were triggered by allegations of a stolen presidential election. President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga finally came to an agreement gave Odinga the prime minister's post, reports MNN.

The newest challenge to the stability comes in the form of resettling the thousands displaced during deadly election violence that began in December and finally ended months later.

Dotun Modupe (doh-toon moh-doopay) with Bright Hope International says while he can confidently say the violence is at an end, there's still a lot to do. "Bright Hope is working with all those who have lost their homes, who had been displaced. We did a lot of things during the crisis and after the crisis: food distribution, helping with medical, continuing helping the children, continuing helping those who are displaced to find a place to live temporarily until we resettle them back to where they were."

There are concerns that the surface calm masks a deeper ethnic division that could once again flare into tribal violence.

However, for Bright Hope, it's an opportunity to shine. "Outreach Community Church, which is Bright Hope's partner, has all the different tribes in their churches. So they're trying to bring all these people together, reconciling them, saying, 'Look, you may come from the Luo tribe, you may come from the Kikuyu tribe, but we're all Kenyans, and above all, we're all Christians in this church. We are all children of God.'"

Bright Hope works in the slums and among the people most affected by the violence and displacement. Aside from helping to rebuild lost homes, they are helping restore infrastructure. For some areas, schools are available for the children, but many families can't afford tuition, uniforms and supplies.

The Sponsorship Program for Refugee Children in Nairobi, Kenya is only two years old, but it is aimed at encouraging children to attend and to thrive in school. Funding for this project will fund schooling for children, help the families with basic needs, and motivate and encourage the children and their parents.

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[09/16/2008]

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