Area Kenyans hope for peace

As the once-stable African nation of Kenya teeters on the brink of an election-spawned civil war, immigrants in the Chicago area are hopeful the two politicians at the center of the crisis will show the type of leadership they promised and calm the growing strife.

"There's a total breakdown in society," said Ronald Bukusi, a native Kenyan who now lives in Aurora with his family. "The two protagonists need to come together. As long as they're stubbornly staying apart, it doesn't matter. Let's see them prove their leadership now."

Chicago and its suburbs are home to about 5,000 native Kenyans who mostly immigrated for educational purposes, said Mukila Maitha, president of United Kenyans of Chicago.

The immigrants have been engrossed in the violence that has gripped their homeland since a Dec. 27 presidential election that was won by the incumbent amid accusations of voting improprieties. More than 300 people have been reported killed, according to Associated Press reports.

"There is a rally planned there for Thursday, which is in just a few hours here, so we'll be spending the whole night up and keeping in touch with what's going on," said Abraham Tumuti, a native Kenyan now living in Grayslake. "If it does not calm down, then we'll have to think of measures to get people out of there, our family, who need to seek safety."

Kenya has long been a bastion of stability in the violence-prone African continent. Many relief and immigration agencies rely on it to provide a haven for other endangered Africans seeking refuge and as a pipeline for aid to other countries.

"In a large sense, this has the potential to affect much of Africa," Bukusi said. "Many nations around Kenya are landlocked, and if aid doesn't come in by air, it comes in by sea through Kenya. Countries like Rwanda and Uganda, if not already suffering enough, will be suffering more soon."

Maitha's organization serves as a social network for area Kenyans and as a conduit for entrepreneurial resources in the African nation.

"Because of the stable economy, Kenyans are investing back home," Maitha said. "We initiated a Sister City relationship between Dixon and a Kenyan city last year and a delegation from Dixon was scheduled to go there next month, but I don't know if that's going to happen now."

Both Bukusi and Tumuti said they have been able to reach most of their friends and family in Kenya but are worried about some they haven't been able to reach. They also are concerned about their financial investments.

"Our family does own property and real estate, mainly in Nairobi," Tumuti said. "As of now, we have not heard of damage to that property that we know of."

Charges of genocide and ethnic cleansing already are being thrown around by both factions in Kenya. Despite the political overtones of the clash, at its base are tribal conflicts.

U.S.-based relief agencies warn of worsening conditions and have begun soliciting for donations of money and goods.

"We are doing a full-pronged effort, everything on this one," said Jan Kary, senior vice president of marketing and development for Baltimore-based World Relief, which has offices in Chicago, Aurora and Wheaton. "What's needed most is funds for us to get food and water. Because of the Iowa caucuses we don't think we're going to get very much media attention on this, but it could become as bad as Rwanda and Darfur."