A Step Back

The Ocampo 6 took the stand at 10:33am in front of the Pre -Trial Chamber at The Hague and the entire country came to a standstill watching the proceedings keenly, each one with a different expectation of the outcome. At 11:27am the initial hearing came to an end, estimated time 1hour and 34minutes. Flashback to 2007-2008 in less than 24 hours the country was destroyed, over 1,000 lives of children, women and men was lost and around 600,000 Kenyans left homeless.

11:27am the clock stopped. My heart became heavy, eyes filled with tears and memories started flowing. December 27th, 2007 saw my country Kenya being ripped off its dignity. War was taking place in a country I called home and one that I always stood firm in defending it when others were criticizing it. What had happen? A question I’m still trying to find an answer to until today.

 At this time I took a moment to think of my fellow Kenyan citizens (idps) who have been refugees in their own country for over 3years and counting. What was going through their minds when the counts of the suspects were being mentioned? Will they be remembered or forgotten? These are the real victims of the post election violence. Each and everyday they wake up in the morning the pray and hope for justice, sadly the sun goes down before it gets there. Justice to them is something they always yearn for and hoping it will be served one day.

At 11:27am I said a short prayer for my fellow Kenyans at the grassroots levels that were affected by the post election violence. Father, may you heal their wounds as you are the only one who can. Goodwill messages are encouraging and friendship from friends are supportive, but only you God can heal that wound. God may you wipe away their tears and replace them with lots of laughter’s. May you give them hope for a better tomorrow and may you re-unite us to be one nation. Amen!

As the road to The Hague begins, I hope that the government will put into account the tears and suffering of these people and the children, women and men we lost during the post election violence. I’m hoping the attitude towards justice will change for the sake of the nation. National healing and reconciliation should be a priority for our nation. Kenya is more important than me and you. 

Photos courtesy of Kobi Kihara, Great Photographer With An Eye Production