Childen bear brunt of Kenyan crisis
Donate today to help Plan assist children and families displaced by the violence in Kenya.
January 29, 2008
The violence caused by warring tribes in Kenya is taking its toll on children, with thousands forced to flee their homes in terror.
Speaking from refugee camps, which are sheltering more than 350,000 people and are continuing to see new admissions, many children have told Plan how they escaped with their lives.
Plan is assisting in many of these camps, such as Jamhuri Park in Nairobi, and is offering support to children caught up in the violence to help recover their physical and mental health. This includes setting up emergency health centers and providing medicines and trained staff to treat victims on arrival.
The majority of the children fled with their parents after witnessing horrific scenes, and now spend their days waiting for news of when they can return.
Most have had their homes burnt to the ground and escaped with nothing but the clothes on their back. Forced to spend their days gathering food and water, they have not been able to go to school for more than a month.
The children's stories
Ten-year-old Njenga witnessed the violence firsthand when a mob came to his village and attacked his neighbors: “I was outside when I noticed some people with torches. I ran to the house. After a short while there were screams all over. We all ran out and I saw many houses burning. We went into the valley to hide . . . I cannot go to school now because the school was also burnt down and we cannot return to Nakuru because members of our community were chased away. I have been reading at the camp and the teacher says I will make up for the lost time when I get admitted to a new school.”
Adhiambo, 12, was in Standard Five at Ndeto Primary school. She is currently staying at Mathare camp in Nairobi. She says, “I lost all my books and clothes when our house was demolished. But the chief visited us here and said the Government will help us rebuild our houses. Then I will return to school.”
Njihia, 17, fled with his parents and two brothers when his home was set on fire by looters. They are now camping at the chief’s camp at Mathare in Nairobi. He recalls the incident: “Dad came brought us to Nairobi from Molo. That night I was going to the toilet when I saw so many people surrounding a house nearby. I ran to the house and informed dad who took all of us to hide in the toilet. The invaders arrived and flattened all the houses in the village after looting everything. We came out after police arrived . . . so many people had died. When we contacted our grandfather in Molo so that we could return, we were informed his house was also burnt down and he ran away to unknown place. So we cannot go home or return to Molo. I will go back to school with all my brothers when the fighting stops.”
Rose, 13, came from Limuru after her father was sacked and members of the community ordered to leave within 12 hours or be killed. Her family had to leave everything behind including money and documents. Rose says she counts herself as lucky after many people from her village were murdered. She said, “It is very hard for all of us even to get food or clothes as you have to fight for everything here at the camp. Dad has sent mum to transport our household goods from Limuru since the people there do not kill women. Many girls get married when things are hard like now but I will go back to school as soon as I get a place.”
Mwikali, 9, is staying at the Jamhuri Park camp. She is yet to come to terms with the reality of the situation and says that life is hard: "I met so many friends at the camp. We have a nice teacher. Mum is looking for another house so we move out of the camp. I want people to stop the fighting so we can go back home and go back to school.”
Donate today to help provide emergency aid to children and families displaced and otherwise adversely affected by post-election violence in Kenya.
Learn more about Plan's work in Kenya.
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Speaking from refugee camps, which are sheltering more than 350,000 people and are continuing to see new admissions, many children have told Plan how they escaped with their lives.
Plan is assisting in many of these camps, such as Jamhuri Park in Nairobi, and is offering support to children caught up in the violence to help recover their physical and mental health. This includes setting up emergency health centers and providing medicines and trained staff to treat victims on arrival.
The majority of the children fled with their parents after witnessing horrific scenes, and now spend their days waiting for news of when they can return.
Most have had their homes burnt to the ground and escaped with nothing but the clothes on their back. Forced to spend their days gathering food and water, they have not been able to go to school for more than a month.
The children's stories
Ten-year-old Njenga witnessed the violence firsthand when a mob came to his village and attacked his neighbors: “I was outside when I noticed some people with torches. I ran to the house. After a short while there were screams all over. We all ran out and I saw many houses burning. We went into the valley to hide . . . I cannot go to school now because the school was also burnt down and we cannot return to Nakuru because members of our community were chased away. I have been reading at the camp and the teacher says I will make up for the lost time when I get admitted to a new school.”
Adhiambo, 12, was in Standard Five at Ndeto Primary school. She is currently staying at Mathare camp in Nairobi. She says, “I lost all my books and clothes when our house was demolished. But the chief visited us here and said the Government will help us rebuild our houses. Then I will return to school.”
Njihia, 17, fled with his parents and two brothers when his home was set on fire by looters. They are now camping at the chief’s camp at Mathare in Nairobi. He recalls the incident: “Dad came brought us to Nairobi from Molo. That night I was going to the toilet when I saw so many people surrounding a house nearby. I ran to the house and informed dad who took all of us to hide in the toilet. The invaders arrived and flattened all the houses in the village after looting everything. We came out after police arrived . . . so many people had died. When we contacted our grandfather in Molo so that we could return, we were informed his house was also burnt down and he ran away to unknown place. So we cannot go home or return to Molo. I will go back to school with all my brothers when the fighting stops.”
Rose, 13, came from Limuru after her father was sacked and members of the community ordered to leave within 12 hours or be killed. Her family had to leave everything behind including money and documents. Rose says she counts herself as lucky after many people from her village were murdered. She said, “It is very hard for all of us even to get food or clothes as you have to fight for everything here at the camp. Dad has sent mum to transport our household goods from Limuru since the people there do not kill women. Many girls get married when things are hard like now but I will go back to school as soon as I get a place.”
Mwikali, 9, is staying at the Jamhuri Park camp. She is yet to come to terms with the reality of the situation and says that life is hard: "I met so many friends at the camp. We have a nice teacher. Mum is looking for another house so we move out of the camp. I want people to stop the fighting so we can go back home and go back to school.”
Donate today to help provide emergency aid to children and families displaced and otherwise adversely affected by post-election violence in Kenya.
Learn more about Plan's work in Kenya.
Back to top
