Children bear brunt of Kenyan violence

Children playing in a camp for displaced people in Kenya

31 January 2008: Children forced to flee their homes have spoken out about the terrible effect the political violence in Kenya has had on them.

Speaking from refugee camps, which are sheltering more than 300,000 people, many children have told Plan how they escaped with their lives.

Plan is stepping up its aid to children caught in the crisis and will deliver child kits containing warm clothing and educational materials to 10,000 homeless young people.

Plan has already provided emergency aid to child refugees and their families in Kenya and across the border in Uganda, including emergency food supplies, health centres and mental health support.

Speaking out

Njihia, aged 17, ran away from his family’s burning home with his brothers Mwangi, 13, and Kinyaua, 9.

Njihia said: “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 the police arrived. So many people had died.”

Death threats

Rose, 13, fled after her father was sacked and members of the community ordered them to leave their home town within 12 hours or be killed.

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 home 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.”

Burning houses

Njenga, 10, said: “I was out 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.”

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