http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fightingpeacefully/message/752

Grassroots report

Ken Owino

KURESOI

LOCAL CHAMPIONS; Lawrence Achami (+2547206133379) and Rono (254 723732617)

Our arrival in Kuresoi was welcomed by shock because of the high level of insecurity that we witnessed there. All vehicles have to be accompanied by armed policemen. Just as in Game Parks you don't get out any-how from the vehicle, disembarking in certain areas would mean dying within five minutes. Our doubts were confirmed when we came upon a group of attackers armed with bows and arrows ready to shoot and kill and chanting war songs. We were saved from the marauding gang by the police officers who shot at them to scare them away, but they unrelenting stood to their ground in revolt. In kuresoi we were confounded by Achami’s dynamic presence, he was lauded by those we were traveling with, the local Police head (OCS) and the locals even before seeing him. Achami is widely known for his relief and peace efforts in kuresoi -a real champion. Achami is hosting a group of internally displaced kikuyus in his homestead relying on very limited supplies of necessities. A team player and intervening on both sides of the divide, Achami has a wide network of contacts who feed him with constant information. Together with Rono (a formidable pair), they have been thinking of reviving the local peace committees and bringing communities together for reconciliation. Kuresoi remains the most volatile area after Mt Elgon, where by its violence history dates back to the late 90’s and always recurrent. All other tribes there like the Luos, Kisiis, Kikuyus luhyas etc. are targets and have been nicknamed the spots/ unwanted by the Kalenjin tribe who are the natives.

Day/night in Day out, houses are razed by arsonists, vehicles hijacked, farm produce stolen and people killed. The situation is both difficult for the non-locals and natives (kalenjins) alike. The kalenjins can't get food or access bank and medical facilities. Non locals are confined in small town centers with 24-7 police guard and go to Molo town (occupied by the Kikuyu community) regularly for business purposes with police escort. A number of camps exist but not with the deplorable conditions as others. Violence mostly emanates from miscommunication/hate information and revenge flares. We had a meeting at Achamis homestead with the displaced and some members of the aggressors’ community (Kalenjins) these were Rono, John Soi and other Kalenjins in Kuresoi, John is the old man working with Rono, his house was burnt and farm looted. Our visit was a break through for Rono’s - Kalenjins and Achami’s - Kikuyus plus other tribes sides, the two sides had never met F2F since the chaos started late last year after the elections, the meeting with Rono and his friend at Achami’s camp was the first one, though there was tension and Achami’s side didn’t want to share when Rono and his friend were present.

Rono’s side expressed great concern of the situation in both sides and is ready to start discussions towards building peace initiatives, they accepted that wrongs in both sides have been committed and there is a need to find peace in everyone and side before any initiative of bringing the two groups together is commenced.

Rono’s side realizes the great suffering of their people, they can’t access basic supplies from the market and can’t sell their produce because there is no transport systems to access the market for them at all, they walk long distances to access transport or come out of kuresoi through far towns like Kericho, we all evidenced that from what Rono was experiencing to attend our meetings – Well done Rono. Rono’s side agreed to work with us and Achami’s in developing and building strong grass-root groups/ network of people that will be the entry points of our peace and development initiatives, these people networks can gradually develop to structures that will get involved in building the peace and development human and physical ICT equipped structures in Kuresoi.

His group suggested that, they would recruit young people to a network of peace and development John Soi requested that David Mutua talk to Achami and his father to consider talking to leaders of their side to meet Rono’s side for peace building discussions. They also suggested that we should explore ways of engaging the youths involved in the violence, before Rono had thought of football tournament but after consultations with others they suggested to engage them through farming activities because this is a planting season and no hope of getting seeds and fertilizers – we need to look at this request again please.

Below are David's personal recommendations out of the Kuresoi tour: - Personally, I appreciate Rono and Achami’s efforts in finding ways of bringing peace back to their divided community, I see a very great working team that can really be the champions of our grass –root work in Kuresoi and I highly recommend the P.O.P team to consider involving them fully for whatever activities we plan in future, they have proved to be real champions. I also appreciate our work of using phones to enable Rono and Achami be virtually in touch and share correct information within their communities though because of the tension in Kuresoi I suggest we work with the two sides separate first, in building strong grass –root human networks, later we can explore the teleconferencing idea I suggested before to build confidence for a F2F meeting of the people networks, these networks will come out with peace strategies and needs that then can be addressed through a physical shared peace and development centers for the long –term expectations and outcomes.

Names of Kalenjins affected by the violence in Kuresoi: -

Anthony Cheruiyot Chelule Richard Kimutai Cheruiyot Willium Kipkorir Chelule Geofrey Kipngetich Chelule Gibson Kipkoech Chelule Joseph Kiprotich Cheruiyot Philemon Kipngeno Cheruiyot Jeremiah Kipyegon Chelule Paul Kiplangat Cheruiyot Wesley Kibet Rotich William Sirma Ruth Waithagei Joshua Tangus Joel Tangus Richard Koskei John Kiprono Langat Philemon Langat Joseph Tesoit Nobert Tanui Richard Tesot Ezekiel Tesot David Koech Ziporah Chumo Elizerbeth Tesot Johan Tesot Rael Birir Joseph Byegon Wesley Byegon Buse Byegon Paul Byegon

AND John Soi - who collected the names with Rono. John's mobile number is 0727274578 Some of the names seem to be of the same family,not sure though- Rono and Achami can check for us..

In kuresoi we identified the need of empowering Achami and Rono to help in. (i) Closing up the communication gaps existing. This can be done by sending more airtime, to help them form groups with central information point. (ii) Opening up closed towns like Molo and Kericho by identifying champions there. In Kericho we already have Charles Kilel () who is equally amazing in his intervention measures. (iii) Approaching and involving relief agencies to deliver medical supplies.

(iv) Provide seeds to both communities fundamentally to reach out to them in approach towards reconciliation.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/2270

Sat Feb 9, 2008 11:12 am Rachel Kungu: i would like to say that it has been reported to me by Achami that 15 houses have been burnt in Molo/ Kuresoi are. this confirms my earlier report that the Kalenjins are in the forest preparing for an attack which was reported in one of Andrius email and said it was information from the Kikuyu.(…)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/2269

Sat Feb 9, 2008 9:53 am

(…..) I invited him to update me constantly by SMS because Internet is very far from his house, around 6 km. Today I have received this SMS " 15 houses were burnt yesterday at a place called KIo/Githima".

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/2232

Feb 7 2008 - Achami also texted me this morning and this is what the text read: i have just received info about a lady who has been sexually molested and is bleeding from her private parts. I have sent police to rescue her, i wish we could assist her get medical attention. Laurence.

I feel that we need to contact the Nairobi Women Hospital immediately and have her in Nairobi asap. she will get free medical care. all what we could do is provide transport from the area to Nairobi, my Kenyan colleagues know the hospital.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/1791 Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:13 pm

Meadowlea:

Requests: Facilitator / Mediator by this Friday

A great, inspiring report from Collins today!!

Collins was happy to report good moves, especially in Kuresoi today in cooperation with Achami. They were able to assist in mobilizing 3 major people and one more just before I called. I'm sorry I did not ask for clarification on what he specifically meant by that.

He is looking for a facilitator to bring both sides to meetings; both Kalenjins and non-Kalenjins on Friday. Students can't go to school because teachers are not there. The more the students stay out, the higher the danger is that they will misdirect their energies. Key question: How can we make things safer for the teachers to come back to teach? (Two teachers died in skirmishes.)

Collins says they are in the process of organizing community peace meetings so that students can go back to school. They need a neutral mediator to go there so each person can bring their own ideas for long term improvement. He has approached the Catholic Justice and Peace commission in an effort to mobilize them. Once that happens, there may be energy to pursue a long term solution. Then they could start ball games - volleyball tournaments and football. That is their long term objective.

Also, they've never experienced theatre, and Collins talked about a very interesting plan to use theatre in a creative and problem solving way by role playing the conflicts. He envisions this happening in such a way that the audience is left hanging without a solution.

Since he envisions all this happening in a workshop setting, it will then be the challenge put to the audience to come up with the solution to the "hanging drama" with the assistance of a process facilitator. It will be much easier to determine the basis of the conflict that way. It will be much easier for the audience to determine if the basis of the problem is a historical or political problem.

He envisions 3 months of acting out drama in workshop form. Then a report will be created to present to the administration. It will be brought to light as a national problem. They will then easily be able to mobilize advocacy from local professionals so it can then be discussed with greater substance at the parliamentary level.

Thank you so much, Collins!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learningfromeachother/message/1428

oduor denis : > Hi Andrius, > My traveling to Kuresoi has bore fruits because am in communication > with three main Kalenjin peace makers in the area. Have set up plans > to have a peace meeting with the Kalenjins and the other communities > at this point we have managed to communicate to few fighters and they > have stop attacking other communities apart from some few areas, the > peace makers who are also in local peace committee feel that a long > team solution can be reached by both sides. I will be traveling to > Kuresoi to meet the three and have close interview with them so that > we can initiate talks, I will talk to Dennis and see if I can get > support to travel back to Kuresoi and meet Rono +254 723732617, Mutai > +245 729979795 and Maritim +254 724734861 who have both agreed assist > in mobilization the Kalenjin youths for a peace talk at a central > meeting place. > The only current problem is communication but I was able to facilitate > some airtime to the three peace makers. So by the end of today there > will be some progress in the peace process that I have started. > > Collins Dennis Oduor +254 721 637 457

A wonderful conversation with the very inspiring Achami today (Jan 14,'08) who is working with fighers in Kuresoi. He is happy to report that quite a few of the fighters are willing to talk. He very much appreciates the assistance and made the specific requests you see listed above. Without it, he says, it would be much more difficult in this crisis. In spite of the difficulties, he still has a lot of hope for tomorrow, and that improves the outlook of he and those he works with. He says he believes that if they have a problem there that it is a problem for the whole world, and he very much appreciates people in other parts of the world who share that view. He welcomes the encouragement that calls like this offer and blessed us in our efforts.

He says he'll keep the peace torch burning!!!

Yes!

My efforts to reach Achami's associate, Collins, met with poor reception. I will try again later.

meadowlea

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fightingpeacefully/message/630

oduor denis wrote: I have just arrived from Kuresoi the battle field, it was a long journey because I traveled with a lot of fear, I traveled to Kuresoi to meet Achami, we spoke for a long time trying to find out a way of reaching out to a person believed to be very influential in Kuresoi among the Kalenjin community in the area. We got a phone number and called and spoke to him for a long time and booked a meeting that could bring peace to the area, the meeting is tomorrow in Molo town and it will be conducted by Achami. The leader refused to give his correct phone numbers unless we promise not to involve the police we promised not too because my mission is to bring peace and stop the war. We managed to buy food staff for tomorrow's meeting. The leader said on phone that they rather get credit on phone and change it into cash. I hope that after tomorrows meeting with the leader things will be normalized. After tomorrow's meeting Denis and I will communicate directly with the leader who they refer to as a "war load" Achami suggested that If we can hire a car to Kuresoi it will be more credibly to travel to Kuresoi and take pictures, he will organize security. Immediately I get the phone number I will email it to you. I will keep you updated

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/mendenyo/message/1043 Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:10 pm

oduor denis wrote: > I have just arrived from Kuresoi the battle field, it was a long > journey because I traveled with a lot of fear, I traveled to Kuresoi > to meet Achami, we spoke for a long time trying to find out a way of > reaching out to a person believed to be very influential in Kuresoi > among the Kalenjin community in the area.

10 Jan 2008 at 10:58 am Collins: The situation is improving in most parts of the country but not most parts of the Rift Valley among the Kalenjin community, these areas are still volatile and hard to reach because of the persistence and resistance of Kalenjin fighters being fueled by the current political stands being pulled by the president, the Kalejins fighters are taking advantage of the current political situation to flash out non-Kalenjins from the Rift Valley mostly Kikuyu community, one of the area is Kuresoi, immediately after I got support from Dennis I have been in communication with young people from Kuresoi which is made up five divisions Ole Ngureon, Keringet, Kamara and Kuresoi. The area has been badly affected by the post election violence. Though again Kuresoi has been a no go zone even before the general elections during the campaigns leading to elections and historical Kuresoi has been associated with a lot of tribal fighting during the election in 1992, 1997 and 2002 affecting Molo town, and some parts of Nakuru town. Personally I have been involved in youth peace rallies in the area by organizing youth forums and sporting events under the banner of youths for peaceful and democratic election just before the general elections the situation was tensed with homes being touched by the Kelenjin fighters. When I called Victor Achami one of the long term peace cruder in the area at night he hard to lock himself in the house before communicating through the phone, we talked for about 2hours on phone. Achami is a resident of Kuresoi for a long time with the experience of the place he was able to report the following shocking findings to me.

On phone Achami told me that confirmed deaths in Kuresoi is 26 people though most of the deaths have not been confirmed because the Kelenjin fighters do not leave their own behind even if one is dead or injured, so Achami says that there are more deaths that have not been reported. Some people have died because of injuries sustained during the fighting and buried without the knowledge of the government. Another shocking report I got is that most of the Kelenjin fighter’s are children between the ages of 14 and 16 who are actually still in primary school. The oldest among the fighters is 25. This is bad news because it reflects the emergence of child solders in Kenya which is totally a new phenomenon to this country. Involving children in such conflict may develop into long term conflict between them and other non Kalenjin community. After facilitating Achami with phone credit He was able to communicate to 10 Kelenjin fighters in the bush. The only problem he told me is that the fighters do not disclose information about what and why they are fighting yet they are saying that they are not willing to give up the fight until the non-Kelenjins leave Kuresoi. He has also been in talks with the provincial administration to hold community peace meetings with the elders because the elders play a major role of instructing and financing the young fighters, the District Commissioner has promised to speared head the talks thanks to the small money I got from Dennis. The situation can be salvaged through intensive outreach in the areas to all the affected areas.

Shocking enough is that the fighters get man power support and boost from the community members who offer to transport fighters from Bomet, Transmara, Kilgoris, and Kipkeleon. Kalenjin fighters travel all the way from the above area to give support to their brothers in Kuresoi; this has made the situation difficult to manage because of the movement of the fighters traveling as far as Kericho to Kuresoi.

Achami is very gratefully of the initiative being conducted by the Dennis and Friends which has enabled him to reach to 10 Kalenjin fighters effectively and he is welling to do more, though access to communication apart from the phone is difficult because of the situation on the ground. Achami has promised to reach out to more Kelenjin fighters in the region. He will be sending me phone numbers of the fighters so that I can also talk to then directly and if possible travel to Kuresoi and meet them personally. To get more incite of the story you can communicate to Achami Through the following numbers +254720613379 and my number is +254721637457 oduoduorATyahoo.com. I will keep you updated.

AboutThisPage

• KenyansToCall=Achami +254 720 613 379, Collins +254 721 637 457 Safaricom,Rono +254 723732617, Maritim +254 724734861, Mutai +254729979795 ;John Soi +254 727274578
• LatestNewsFromKenya=OdourCollins has successfully worked with the community leaders, he is searching for a facilitator to help with the meeting between Kalenjin community and non Kalenjin communities, they had a idea for organizing peace promoting theater; Achami, Kuresoi, Feb 7 - a lady has been sexually molested (raped);

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:54:03 UTC batiem: it is ashame that you say kalenjin worriors are of the age of 14-16 are you sure it is not mungiki? if rono,maritim,mutai are true kalejins then i dont know which part of kalenjin they were during the violence let them stop spreading senseless idiopathic rumours abuot MY TRIBE

SashaMrkailo April 8, 2008 11:23 CET Hi batiem! Thank you for writing on our wiki. Yes we have members from all ttibes in Kenya. And I for example was not aware of any tribe in Kenya or its name or history before this violence started to happening in your beautiful country. I simply dont have any interest to support any tribe in Kenya against others, I want to know the truth. I came from a nation which is also very badly represented in world medias as guilty for everything , for some reason. The truth can always be found if we want to find it. It would be good if you could join our forum and speak up about the thruth the way you see it. Maybe we can discuss and learn that we share the same truth. Best wishes, and wish your tribe and whole Kenya peace. Also if you want you can write answer here, and /or leave your email and I caninclude you in our forum where you can represent your tribe better.

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