Through GlobalEyes

1. Prof. Margee’s team from University of Pacific donated to us $ 5,000 for use in completing electricity installation ($ 1,000) and for CRM food and domestic supplies plus Dago Thim school feeding ($4,000). However, schools operations have not yet been stable, with head teachers calling on pupils to go to school one day and the following day they are asked not to report. Even when calls are made for school days, very few pupils turn up so we felt we should wait some more days for stability before embarking on the school feeding program at Dago Thim.<br /><br />2. There has been worsening of events for the victims of post election violence. We continued conducting assessments and came to learn that a big group of displaced people are camped at various police stations around Kisumu – sort of the administration have not revealed their details for fear that surrounding community can attack them at the camps. They inform people that all displaced people have been moved out of Kisumu. I sent our staff and they saw with their own eyes the situation at Kondele police station in Kisumu. Today Caren and myself accompanied them and found the situation terrible. There were 53 people in total, comprising of women, men, children and some youth. They were initially hostile and only after we talked to a pastor who has been visiting them that they accepted to talk to us. We found they did not have meal for today and for days to come, no soaps, women begged for sanitary towels, children were worn out and tired old men who just kept themselves in tents. A woman and two old men had 3-day old medical prescriptions from a government hospital. The situation was bad and we could not hold. We said we could use some funds from our account to provide for some urgent needs. Perhaps incase we get some funds later towards support of such victims, then we shall replace. <br /><br />We bought them 3 bags of maize, 27 tins of 250 gm cooking oil, 27 packets of salt, 27 loaves of cabbages, 14 pieces of bar soaps, 53 pieces of tiny toilet soaps, 12 pieces of sanitary towels, 16 quick snack sets (juice and crisps) for kids, some cabbages and the prescribed medicines. One woman pleaded with us to buy for her petroleum jelly. We spent about Kshs. 18,000/=. It was indeed a great relief to them when they saw us come back with the items. We estimated the supplies would take them some 4 days – I’ve attached various photos that we took as we distributed and as we discussed with them. These people will probably need relief support for some 5 more months before they can establish other habitations.<br /><br />After the Kondele case I visited Riat police station, which is some 500 meters from Tropical Focus offices and the police revealed that they are holding one similar victim (Called Nyamweya Ombati). Mr. Ombati’s father is believed to be also hiding in another police station. Their shop, located just on the fence of Bukna Primary School was burnt down. They however do not want surrounding community to be aware due to risk of attack by the same community. Similar groups are in other police stations around Kisumu and other supporting organizations cannot cope.<br /><br />The police station groups of victims increases the needs for support to victims of post election violence hence the budget is higher than what we had communicated before. For this additional group, about Kshs. 700,000/= would be necessary to supplement their survival for the next 5 months.<br /><br />3. For our other activities, we have yet encountered some challenge with purchases. Prices have escalated compared to budgets we had prepared for most activities. For instance, we bought hard wares and realized we overshot by about Kshs. 12,000/=. Cement which used to cost Kshs. 600/= before the post election conflicts currently costs Kshs 900/=. We are yet to buy bricks and will need to pay Mason and also complete labor payment for pit digging. I do not really k now how we’ll fill the gap. Costs of supplies for Children Rescue Mission have also increased. <br /><br />4. Following donation as on item 1 above, we still have costs for office running not covered.<br /><br />5. Electricity wiring at CRM and Tf building is now complete. We paid installation fees to the power company and are awaiting connection – probably in 4 weeks if security situation does not worsen.<br />