KENYA TRIP 2023 - THE AZIMIO PROTESTS

For five days, the streets of the major cities in Kenya have been littered with burning tires, rocks that had been thrown at police, and burned-out cars. Protesters have continued to throw rocks, despite the fact that the air is heavy with tear gas fired from the rifles of the police.

The Kenyans are calling the demonstrations the Azimio protests. “Azimio” is a coalition of government leaders who are in opposition to the current government of the president, William Ruto.

The complaints of Azimio and the protesters are some new taxes that have been imposed by the government, and also the very high and quickly rising cost of living. Among these costs are the wheat prices, which have risen up 30 percent in the past year, and sugar, which up 60 percent. Much of this is probably the result of international conflict. Kenya and all of the Horn of East Africa gets much of its grain from Ukraine, so shipments of wheat, for instance, have been way down.

But the Azimio and much of the country are not convinced that all of the costs are beyond control of the government. To let their voice be heard, they have taken to the streets.

Azimio is led by the leader of the Luo tribe, Raila Odinga. The Luo are located in the western part of Kenya, just to the north of the Kisii tribe. The main city of the Luo is Kisumu, which is also the main airport that serves all of western Kenya.

Whether it is unfortunate or otherwise, our travelers of the Marquis family + Josh arrived in Kisumu from Nairobi this morning, Kenya time. Although they arrived safely, it is unsafe for them to them to continue by car up to Kisii at this time.

This is to be the final day of the protests, so we are praying that tomorrow (Saturday), God will open the way for them to drive to Kisii. Joel says it is unsafe to make the trip by night, since the road between Kisumu and Kisii is through the bush.

But Ben and Joanna and company are safe. They are in a hotel near the city center which is guarded by many police.

Thank you for your prayers for this family. They are doing well, but it is their first time in Africa and of course their first time to visit the orphanage.