Reconstruction Of The Ecclesial Hall At Kakuma Refugee Camp

Early this year, we got a report from the Kakuma Refugee Camp ecclesia informing us that, following a dispute that had been brewing between a group of Muslims of Somali origin and our brethren, the ecclesial hall was pulled down. Bro. Katembo, the elder, told me that on the morninh of Feb 4th 2013, when they went to where the hall used to stand they found slashed iron sheets and vandalized properties. This happened after threats were repeatedly issued to them from the time the construction had been underway. The group was opposed to the construction of a "Christian" meeting hall at the very site allocated by the Camp administration, citing that it was "their" area. Upon inquiring with the Refugee Affairs Office in Nairobi, I gathered that there's no part of the camp assigned to either a particular religious community nor people of a particular nationality.

To avoid any further friction, it was considered wiser to relocate to another site as the Bible advises: "And if any man will... take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." (Matt. 5v40)

Reconstruction Efforts

Brethren and sisters of the Kakuma ecclesia did not back down on their resolve to put up a meeting place. On that backdrop, some funds were provided for the reconstruction thus; I had to travel to Kakuma Camp, early April, to help brethren on the way forward.

After a tedious 27-hour journey, from Nairobi to Kakuma, I arrived in the wee hours of the morning, 3am, and was later met at the bus station by Bre. John Katembo and Assumani; that very morning we went to seek the approval of the Camp Manager to our new proposed site in order to avoid any further dispute with those in the neighborhood. Our request was gracefully granted. The Manager expressed even his regret for what happened (himself being a Muslim), thereafter, we proceeded to the office of the NCCK, the NGO in charge of the allocation of plots in the camp, to get the endorsement of putting up our ecclesial hall as required. The Field Officer of the said organization also gave us the go-ahead and, so the construction work was started without delay.

General Situation Of The Ecclesia

Brethren and sisters of the Kakuma Camp ecclesia are spiritually sound and firm in their faith despite the daily difficult living conditions they have to endure. The five brethren and two sisters were not deterred by the challenge which came their way but were determined to surmount it.

The Kakuma Ecclesia has eight friends who are taking Bible lessons and as a result, on our next trip, we will be expecting to conduct some interviews and possibly baptisms. There is also a Sunday School with 17 children aged between 3 and 12 years.

On the other hand, we have had three heavy downpours pounding the area,creating a favourable environment for the proliferation of mosquitoes; consequently, cases of malaria have become widespread throughout the camp affecting up to 50% of all patients admitted to the main Kakuma Camp Hospital. Among the casualties was one of the brethren, Byaombe Lumona, who was bedridden throughout my 5-day stay there. He went to the hospital to seek treatment but, to his surprise, was given a mere prescription and told to go and buy the medicines from a chemist since the hospital was running out of anti-malaria drugs; this was indeed a tall order to our brother as most of the camp residents cannot afford them.

It is our prayer that our Heavenly Father may continue blessing His work at Kakuma and may He strengthen our brethren and sisters to stand firm amidst the various challenges they are facing, till the return of our Master who will bring to an end all the tribulations undergone by those who are eagerly awaiting his peaceful rule.

Construction works going on

The newly constructed Kakuma Refugee Camp ecclesial hall

Kakuma Refugee Camp