Grand Coalition Government: New hope?

sh. Today at 5 pm the Kenyan TV station KTN broadcasted a live report on a new Cabinet with President Kibaki, Prime Minister Odinga and Vice President Kolonzo. Now they have to proove that they will bring back the standard of the country to its previous level. Sudden results cannot be expected over night, but the first steps in the right direction are done. Let's hope that God will protect them and guide our country.

It was also a day of preparation for us at the Rhein-Valley Hospital. Tomorrow we will have to feed 3500 refugees with corn, beans, milk powder, porridge and some baby food. At the same time we will have to do more regsitration work for the UN and the Red Cross. Each family living in of our tents will be listed. Our Swiss guest Alex Paur helped to load our Landrover. Then he insisted to visit a Governent Hospital but after 5 minutes they have seen enough. The circumstances were not so inspiring. Alex will probably stay for another 2 days to witness our big food distrubution.

Swiss student visits our water stations

Today's report comes from Alex Paur (left), a young student from Switzerland who is currently visiting the Rhein-Valley Hospital and their water stations to study the water situation for a personal study.

Yesterday I arrived in Nairobi and today I met the responsable people at the hospital, Ruth Schäfer and Stephan Holderegger. As the dark clouds showed a wet weather prospective, we soon climbed the mountain to visit the water station on 2700 m, which really fascinated me a lot. With the help of a simple system the residents of the area get their frish drinking water. Before we started our way back, Mama Matata ensured that somebody would bring charcoal to the fire places of the refugees in the hospital camp. So they couldn't came to the point to start deforesting. On our journey home we quickly stopped at the Show-Ground refugee camp in Nakuru. It was frightening to see in which circumstances the people have to live. Each one, who gets a place within the hospital ground, can be more than happy.


I liked the hills of Kasambara and the intensive green of the trees. I was also enriching to meet all the locals, especially the children who are all in their hearts. At the same time I was a little shocked when I heard how many difficulties daily have to be surmounted. I admire Mama Matata for her constant dedication and hope that she will meet less hurdles in the future.