CALL FOR HELP IN SETTING UP RAPE CRISIS CENTRES

Urgent Action Fund-Africa has supported The Nairobi Women’s Hospital
to set up 4 crisis response centres (Women’s Gender Recovery Unit s)
in Mathare, Huruma, Jamhuri Park and Kibera to provide , shelter,
security, and more importantly medical and psychological care to rape
victims who are unable to access the services because the informal
settlements have been sealed off by security personnel and violent
protestors. The hospital is now FULL , it has dealt with 19 cases in
the last 24 hours. There are 75,000 displaced people in Jamhuri park
alone, majority of whom are women and children. Total numbers of
displaced Kenyans has topped 300,000 and growing daily.

Other contributors to this initiative include St Johns Ambulance and
Red Cross who have provided an ambulance and tents respectively. The
Red Cross is also providing food to the IDP’s . We are appealing for
more funds. We need Kenya Shillings 5.8 million (USD 90,000). UAF-
Africa is contributing $10,000. We see the action as contributing to
protecting the lives of the most marginalized in our communities;
women and girls living in informal settlements. Those who are most
vulnerable and subject to gender based sexual violence in this
situation of crisis.

If you want to assist, kindly contact

Vicky Karimi or Betty Murungi at
Urgent Action Fund-Africa
Life Ministry Centre
Jabavu Road, Kilimani
PO BOX 53841-00200
Nairobi Kenya
Tel +254 20 2731095
Fax +254 20 2731094
info@urgentactionfund-africa.or.ke or vicky@urgentactionfund-
africa.or.ke

or
Lucy Kiamaa at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital
Gender Violence Recovery Centre
Nairobi Women’s Hospital
Argwings Kodhek Road , Hurlingham
P.O. Box 10552 - 00100
Tel: +254 20 2726821/4/6/7, +254 20 2736845
Fax: +254 20 2716651
Email: gvrc@nwch.co.ke or lkiama@nwch.co.ke
Nairobi, Kenya

Most of our scholars are safe

I just arrived back in the U.S. after a month in Kenya. We have made contact with all but one of our scholars and all are safe. We are working very very hard to make contact with the ninth scholar and I will post an update as soon as we hear from her or her family.
All of Akili Dada's Kenya based board members, advisors and intern are also safe.

If you are interested in keeping up with what Kenyan bloggers have to say about the ongoing crisis visit this Kenyan blog aggregator.

Crisis in Kenya

I'm currently in Kenya and horrified and appalled by what is happening to my beloved country. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/issue/current/

Isaac (my husband) and I are safe and I am working on contacting our scholars and their families to see how they have endured the violence of the last few days.

This horrific experience leaves me that much more passionate about Akili Dada's mission for better leaders.

I firmly believe that it is our leaders who have led us to this crisis and that better leadership could end the violence.

Even though communication is difficult I will try to post updates especially of our scholars safety.