Week 33 DTF Aug 7

https://youtu.be/NtGO7qJ5HYU

Elections in Kenya often result in violence.  We as parents fasted and prayed for their safety on Sunday.

Dan wrote:
There are no internet cafes in bush, we email at the church, why we emailed on Sunday is because we weren't able to on monday because it was the first of the month so we had to go into town to but food for the month and we wouldn't have had time to email! same with today, we are about to go into lock down so we cant email tomorrow.

My response:

Thanks so much D!! It was great to hear from you today before the lock in.

We are fasting and praying for you and the whole mission today with all the other parents. There is strength in it and it is really all we can do. We do not have a spirit of fear but of hope and of a sound mind as it says in Timothy 1:7.

Also,

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). 

Thursday morning update from President Msane:

The first day of counting in the Kenya elections did not go as calmly and peacefully as the actual voting did. To quote one of the reports received: “Opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Mr Raila Odinga on August 9 alleged that the results of the August 8 presidential election had been compromised and were therefore fraudulent. With ballots from 94% of polling stations counted, incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, of the ruling Jubilee Party of Kenya (JPK), had secured 54% of the vote to MrOdinga’s 44%. (Source: Control Risks)” There were isolated protests in a few areas that are opposition strongholds, with burning of tyres and stones thrown at the police who fired teargas and reportedly some live ammunition at the protesters.

“Control Risks Comment: With a JPK victory increasingly likely, members in opposition strongholds and closely contested areas should monitor developments, exercise high levels of caution, and be prepared to stand fast directly following the official announcement of the results. Members in the former Nyanza and Western provinces (Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, and Migori), coast regions (Kilifi, Lamu, and Mombasa), the south-east (Kitui and Machakos), and the vicinity of low income, high density neighborhoods in the capital Nairobi and Mombasa over the coming hours should minimize movement as a standard precaution.” 

This is largely in line with how we understood the potential risks from before the elections, and our missionaries were moved away from these areas last weekend and sheltered in other relatively safer areas.

Consequently, our missionaries will continue today to be sheltered in place. We will review our status on a daily basis from now on, as we continue to monitor the situation in the public environment. It is possible that the status may be changed by proselyting area as against generally from here going forward.