Parish council member's unclear complaints

rs. In the morning I called the Kenyan Telecom and checked about our internet connections and finally it came back to life during the day. We also unpacked our car and started to distribute the kitchen ware we bought yesterday. Mr. Muhia called and informed us that he will deliver 50 more mattresses for the IDP's today. Then we had an unexpected visit by a parish council member and an assistant policeman. They said they first wanted to take the police car to arrest me and Njaga, our secretary, but he told the boss that he knew me and that we will find a solution without further consequences. It seems that that they claimed that we dismantled the church kitchen without permission, that they wanted back the hut, where we have our material and that the border wire would belong to them. And we had cut the trees without their permission. I asked Njaga to bring the ground plan and finally they had nothing to add anymore and left. I then rushed to my car before the big evening rain started. The temperatures dropped now to 19° C.

Shopping in Nakuru - Internet interrupted

rs. According to official informations, the Kenyan internet is currently out of function due to technical problems. We hope to have it back soon. In the meantime I am sending this text by other means to keep our daily posts alive.

This morning I went to Nakuru for shopping, together with our secretary Nijaga. As most of the IDP's have no washing bowls, nor dishes or pans, we decided to buy bigger and smaller pans for cooking. We also bought hand lanterns that work with paraffin, because we often envision power brakes during the night. Alltogether we spent nearly five hours in a shopping center and even after we payed our bill the owner wanted to check everything over and over until my patience became thin like a thread! When we finally wanted to load my "Liseli" (that's the name of my Landrover), we realized that it is too small so we had to hire a little 3-wheel taxi and due to the usual evening shower we had to bring everything into my home. Tomorrow we will bring the things to the hospital and will distribute them to the people.

Some signs of joy

rs. As on Monday's we have our food distribution and as always we had to check the people because we are only allowed to give out food to the IDP's from our camp. The sanitary installations make more and more progress and what is enjoyable, the people are smiling a little more. They are happy that somebody cares about them and that every day the circumstances in the camp are a little better. Some children even start on their own to clean up the ground and started to play. If you instruct the children early, you can see the result. This morning we had another joyful moment: a mother gave birth to twins - all three are fine.

Photos: Ruth Schäfer

Camp toilets almost finished

rs. Our improvised toilets are almost finished. We worked hard the whole week to digg the earth wholes, to cut the wood pieces and to get the needed materials. Now only the plastic sheets are missing. By the way, in the meantime the people could use our hospital toilets.

During the day I made some plans to properly organize life in the camp. Discipline is of key importance. We have to include the help of these people to bring an order into their daily life. This is general cleaning and especially of the sanitary installations, who is in charge for the fire place and a laundry plan for the different tents. The Kenyans are not so easy to handle, so you have to tell them the things many times until they do it. Without a lot of patience it's impossible to survive. It was an active Sunday and not much time for my household or office work...

First cholera death in Nakuru town

It's now 7 pm and I just got the latest news that a girl died of cholera when she was brought to the hospital in Nakuru town.

Mattresses will bring some help for the people

rs. This morning we went to Nakuru to get the ordered 200 mattresses. They were already waiting for us in front of the warehouse. After counting them we loaded them into the truck and had to wait quite some time until the driver was ready beacuse he needed to fill up his tank. Anyway, everything arrived at our place in good condition. After storing the mattresses in a tent, a mother with her three teenage boys grabbed my attention; her husband had been killed and all she has is a small oven, some dishes and some clothes. Luckily we now have the mattresses so that people like them can get a place to sleep. Still many refugees have to rest on a piece of card board or a plastic sheet. I finally gave them some food enough for today and tomorrow. Later in the afternoon again the daily thunderstorm seemed to be imminent. Not that I fear the rain, but with the water the streets are transformed in a dangerous slippery path and even with my Landrover it's hard to stay in line. In the car I got a call from Fundi who told me that the woman with the 1 month old child just arrived. So many things are waiting to be done and I don't think I will have a long weekend...

Buying 200 mattresses and more ...

Stephan is back home in Switzerland and I started my day with shopping. We need 200 mattresses and I tried to get the best price in the industrial section of Nakuru. I finally payed 390 for one, which is not bad - including the transport. I will control the loading tomorrow morning and then we will bring them to the hospital. While being in town I checked our post office box. By the way that's the only way to get the post - in Kenya there are no postmen, to save costs. In town I met the boys who usually look after my car while I am shopping. I then called our doctor and asked how the little boy with the tumor is. The patient will be brought to the Kijabe Hospital for an urgent operation and I gave them the needed money. Until 6 pm I had no news about him. I also sent one of our staff members to Nairobi to get the documents for our container still waiting to be released. Also here no news yet how things went. - Mama Matata

Last works for the sanitary installations

sh. Mr. Maina Muhia from the UN WFP called this morning to ask us to come again to his office to clarify the details of the mattresses that are waiting in Nairobi. They should be transported to the hospital next Tuesday. Still no positive news from our container also staying in Nairobi. We hope to get another call later today. Arriving in the hospital we discussed the things to be arranged for the operation on the tumor of a 3-year old boy. And Mama Matata gave the last instructions for the toilets that should be finished in the camp area of our ground by Saturday.

Video reportage on Mama Matata's work

rs. Today we drove to the hospital ground to make the last arrangements for the installations of the toilets. Today I also realized a live video reportage on Mama Matata that we will also publish on this blog as soon as it is cut and finished. I filmed her explaining the hospital's activities. We started at the main entrance, then went to the ambulatory, laboratory, operation theater, storage room of the medications, book-keeping department and the sanitary rooms. We could also film the birth of a child. We just arrived some seconds before it happened! I never watched a birth in my life. The mother is fine and 3 minutes later Mama Matata made a little interview wit her. Then we watched the situation of other patients, among them two women with Malaria. We also called Nairobi to get the latest news about the container, waiting for the last papers to be released. Then about 2o IDP's came for their food rations; they couldn't make it yesterday. At 4 pm we rushed home but couldn't escape another heavy down pour.

Little malaria patient

Strenuous negotiations to get our container

sh. Since two months a container with school supplies and gifts for Kenyan children is blocked in Nairobi. So today we drove another time to Nairobi to speak with several offices to release the container at an acceptable price. I also had to explain them what the Rhein-Valley Hospital does. Finally they promised us that we will get the needed document by tomorrow. Let's hope for the best! After a whole day of wandering from one instance to the other we started our trip back at 5 pm and drove through the Rift Valley towards Nakuru. We drove over two mountains with 2600 m altitude and experienced all aspects of Kenya from city smog to beautiful landscapes.

Despite rain 3000 IDP's got their weekly food

sh. Today we had our big food distribution with corn, sugar, lentils, biscuits and baby food, and everybody was registered. The weather was not very favorable and we had a heavy rain for 1 1/2 hours, so we had to interrupt our distribution and the people found shelter under the roof of the new fire place and in the hospital. Finally, by 5 pm we had served everybody. During the day I also had the opportunity to meet the patients currently being treated in the hospital and learned why they were there. 3/4 of the patients are displaced persons (IDP) and get the treatment as well as the medications free of charge. - Today a DHL truck finally brought the latrines and soaps for our sanitary installations.

Morning at Nakuru Park

To see the picture in large size visit our Kenya Photos Blog.

Invited by Mr.Muhia and his family

sh. After enjoying our Sunday morning in the Nakuru park we could meet Mr. Meina Muhia (UN World Food Program) and his family in Nakuru town. We had lunch together and also could talk about the current situation in Kenya and tomorrow's food distribution to the IDP's - as we call them. Interdependent displaced people are in fact are not refugees. They will get again the portions for a full week. And Mr. Muhia promised that the sanitary installations also should arrive at the hospital by tomorrow. Although Monday will be a long working day I plan to go to Nairobi again to check the situation with the Container from kidstokids Switzerland who is blocked there since months. Perhaps we also get the licence plate for Mama Matata's car. We asked for it more than two years ago... Strong nerves are a big advantage in Kenya.

All those who are using Apple's new
OS X Leopard operating system;
this is a real one, taken in the Nakuru park by Stephan Holderegger

Kenya, also a paradise for zebras

Many refugees are still traumatized

sh. We have several patients who are still suffering from the traumatic circumstances of the last 3 1/2 months, for example this mother with her two little children (see picture right) who had to watch with her own eyes how one of her close relatives was killed. - Today we cleaned the hospital especially the maternity because it is a rule at the Rhein-Valley Hospital to clean and sterilize this section after a birth took place. The toilets for the refugee camp still didn't arrive. We got the excuse that the truck involved had to be repaired. So it will probably be only next week that we can finish our sanitary installations. At lunch time our grandmother schuschu could leave the hospital. Her two sons took care of her and thanked us profoundly for all the help at the hospital. Later in the afternoon we again had a heavy thunderstorm and we were happy to get home without any calamities because the Kenyans use to drive in these circumstances as if the streets were dry...

The big clean-up took more than 3 hours

This morning we saw some animals on the way to work. Click on the picture to see it in large size or visit our Kenya Photos blog.

UNICEF, UNHCR, Map Int. & UN WFP on a visit

sh. After an uneasy night with gunshots and barking dots we went to the hospital early this morning because many visits were expected. At 11 am delegations from the UNICEF, the UNHCR, Map International and UN World Food Program arrived to check our hospital and they were all very impressed about the organisation and the tidiness everywhere. In the maternity they could see a baby born this morning at 1 am. By the way the mother is fine and already could leave the hospital in the afternoon. The delegates then visited the refugee camp on our ground, the preset for the toilet and shower facilites, the big new fire place and our food storage room. All guests praised the work of the Rhein-Valley Hospital and promised us assistance for the coming weeks. They will also inform the Government about this positive well functioning humanitarian institution.

Today the refugee workers not only got their daily meal but also some clothes.

Still waiting for the toilets and shower cabins

sh. Heavy clouds were in front of us when we left the house at 8:30 h this morning. On the way to the hospital we picked up a new nurse who comes from Western Kenya and had lost his job from one day to the other when the crises started. Arriving at the hospital ground we could assist the finish of the central fire place and the laundry construction that got the final stainless coating (see picture). Then we presented our new crew member to the others and said hello to our 85 year old schuschu (grandmother) who is more or less in a stable condition. We are still waiting for the promised toilet and shower cabins. As often in Kenya you need a lot of patience. You can call 20 times until something becomes reality. Let's hope we get them soon. The weather stayed dry. During the day we have now temperatures up to 28° C and during the night it goes down to 10° C!

This is our current crew of staff members
and temporary workers!

Humanitarian organisations inspired by us

This is one of our patients: a 85 year old woman who suddenly had several health problems. Only last week she still was carrying 20 liter water containers from our hospital to her home. She was happy to be outside the building for a short time and was assisted by our doctor and one of our nurses.

Today started sunny and already at 8:30 am we had a first meeting at the office of the UN World Food Program, where we got the latest informations. The major humanitarian organisations had a meeting and discussed the situation at the Rhein-Valley Hospital in Nakuru, based on extensive informations from Mr. Meina Muhia and Mr. Harald Nordby. Both recently could witness themselves how active Mama Matata and our crew is.

Cooking for our crew

Arriving at the hospital we called the President of the Rhein-Valley association to ask him for permission to give a little salary to 22 refugees who currently help us with our works at the camp site and to keep the order. The roof for the central fire place of the camp could also be finished today and we were looking for some amount of gravel for this site. So we drove to Naivasha, where we had a meeting with Mr. Lutzky, project manager of the H. Young & Co. and he kindly agreed to sponsor a truck load of gravel including the transport costs. Many thanks to him for his generous help!

On the way back to Nakuru we had a heavy thunderstorm and flooding. Many cars were blocked by the water masses.

Working hard for our camp installatations

sh. Today we had a busy day with all the works for the finish of the central fire places, the building of a roof for it and the last earth digging for the sanitary installations. In addition we are planning some laundry strings. As it will rain more often in this season, all these works are more than necessary. Currently about 40 workers are involved, 25 from our own crew, the rest recruited from the refugees. All workers have now the same T-Shirt so it is visible who is part of the group. We still have to control a lot because we have a lot of equipment around and especially in the night our protection personnel is needed. Tomorrow Mr. Muhuia from the UN will visit us again to help us with the final decisions and installations. On our way home, we met some women and girls carrying heavy wood sticks for their fires at home. It is not rare that they have to complete distances of 15-20 k with loads of 30-40 kg!

Last minute news: The political situation here in Kenya is not getting better for the time being. Today 18 people were killed in Nairobi and many cars burnt. The fight of the Mungiki's seem to continue and the military together with the police are present. In the Cabinet again an incident occured: when Odinga wanted to take his seat, he was pushed away and had to sit where his other group members are. Only next Tuesday the final seating order will be announced.

Swiss TV reports on the Rhein-Valley Hospital

The French speaking Swiss TV station tsr included a report on the Rhein-Valley Hospital in yesterday's programme "Le Journal". They recently visited the facilities (see our earlier posts) and interviewed the founder, Swiss Stephan Holderegger (picture).

Food distribution despite gunshots in Nakuru

This morning we were wakened by gunshots near our home in Nakuru. Military people went into town. One news followed the next, we got telephone calls and it seemed that the Muliki militia got ready for riots and cars were burnt. The streets were closed and all cars who wanted to enter the town, were stopped. Mama Matata stayed calm because she experienced similar situations before, but I was quite shocked and frightened. Now we had to decide what to do because we had to go to the hospital to feed thousands of people. We were lucky that we were driving in the other direction and could reach the hospital without trouble, although police and military were present all over. Arriving there we heard that our doctor and one of the nurses still were blocked in town. Mama Matata advised them to stay there until the situation would become better.

The refugees were already waiting in masses. First we registred them, then we started with the food distribution, directed by Mama Matata herself. We also had a visit to the hospital: Mr. Harald Nordby from Sweden (see picture below), who is responsable for the UNICEF logistics in Nakuru. He could witness all our activities in and around our facilities. He was amazed to see Mama Matata and our hospital crew and told us that he is planning to invite people from other humanitarian organisations to watch and learn how to handle the masses of refugees. Finally we gave out food for 3,200 refugees and also activitated the works at our central fire places at the camp site (see picture right). We got the help of two additional workers for the coming 2-3 days to finish everything as soon as possible. Later in the after- noon a heavy thuderstorm urged us to quickly return home. -Stephan Holderegger

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.