After lots of back and forth and mental anguish for me I have decided to head back to Johannesburg where I’m currently based. It’s been a tough day. I’m from a multi-ethnic background and I feel like I’m being hit on all sides – family stranded in Kericho, no word from family in Kisumu and Western, in-laws under siege in Nakuru, relatives businesses being looted at the Coast, my mother emptying out her two stalls at Kenyatta market and carrying out things in plastic bags and duffel bags because mobs have threatened to burn down the market tomorrow – that’s her livelihood – it’s bad enough that she’s had no business for most of December. We are all feeling so helpless and are reduced to platitudes like “let’s hope for the best” and all “we can do is pray” and “it will end soon” and “these guys need to do something” but all we are doing is masking our fear that we are on a precipice.
I leave tomorrow afternoon, if we get to the airport OK. I have practically changed my ticket three times. That’s how conflicted I am.
I LOVE Kenya. That’s the only reason I’ve spent the last week practically chained to my laptop so that I can chronicle the unfolding events and keep folks who have no access to information updated. But like many of you out there, I find myself living a dual life for professional and personal reasons. And I’m battling with the feeling that I am leaving Nairobi just when I am needed here the most (actually I am).
After a sleepless night last night, I came to the conclusion that though I could push the limits, as a parent, I have to put my child’s safety above my passion (she better not talk back when she’s a teenager!).
I will continue blogging events from Joburg and will try and get back to Nairobi in a few weeks once my guys are situated at home.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your words of encouragement and support, for sharing your stories (keep them coming), for sharing your opinions, for tolerating my draconian stance about comments (trust me I’d rather not have to moderate, it’s not an easy task), and for reminding me why I love Kenya so much even at its ugliest.
God speed and may God protect your family as well as all Kenyans out there currently suffering and in harms way during this time.
Hello Ory
We love you. You don’t owe anybody anything yet you have given so much. Your service to your country at this crucial hour has sustained our thirst for information. Go ahead and take care of your family. We have no doubt that you have given it all you can. Safe travels. I pray for the best for you and your family and pass your mum our warmest regards for giving birth to such a wonderful human being.
Admirer.
All I can say is stay safe and all the best. Thank you for the invaluable updates. We will certainly miss you for that.
Ory,
I can appreciate your being torn over the decision, especially with so many family members you would be leaving behind! I have really appreciated your committment to what you are doing. I wish you the best. Have a safe journey and stay in touch with us if you can.
The best. keep the dota safe first if you can.
Ory, sounds like a wise and reasonable decision. Like you, I believe the most productive thing to do is regain some sense of normalcy and reconstitute the lives we’ve always lived. In the midst of tradgedy that has always been the most effective respite and certainly Kenya is now more a figurative tradgedy than a literal one, things could yet get worse AND they could also get a whole lot better if collectively we keep our wits about us……
You’re keeping your’s.
As a parent, I understand that the kids must come first. Thank you for all that you’ve done.
Would you ever have imagined seeking peace and shelter in Jo’burg!
Hi, asante sana for everything. Can you recommend any other bloggers out there? Over the past few days I have grown to depend on you for info.
I Pray that you get safely to the airport. Have a safe trip.
Kenya is greater than the sum of its parts, and it will always be. I believe the ship has left port on this issue; if it hadn’t, we wouldn’t see so much passion around the just concluded election as we have seen. The PEOPLE turned up in overwhelming numbers to exercise their civic responsibility; our LEADERS have failed us….both of them. My belief is that leadership is a calling…one is called to serve others. They have not served the PEOPLE by digging in their heels they way the have, and by not acting expediently to quelch the violence and loss of life.
Here’s my platitude: the PEOPLE power and the international community will be too overwhelming to preclude a short-term solution to this problem.
Your blog has been one of the few forums available to many of us in the diaspora to voice our opinions, and hear those of others.
One of my favorite quotes is, “You Cannot test Courage Cautiously.” You’ve done a great and courageous service to your country over the last week…now it’s time to do a great and courageous service to your family.
Godspeed in your travels.
All the best Ory and I hope that you will get to the airport successfully. You have done great work and will continue doing so. It is best to do it at a safe place especially for your family so you need to take care of that. Thanks once again.
Ory,
Though it has been lost in the midst of all the post-election violence, your contribution to Kenya through Mzalendo and the subsequent parliamentary losses of non-perfoming, self entitled and corrupt members of the last parliament stands as a true testament of what is possible and why there is still hope for this country. I encourage you to continue to blaze the path of justice, to continue to seek truth and to hold our leaders to higher standards of accountability and whenever possible, to stand among those leaders and be counted.
Pole to hear about your own mother being affected, and pole to all Kenyans of whatever ethnic and cultural identity, of whatever background, who are affected and caught in between, but who continue to show fortitude and resilience in the face of untold suffering.
Godspeed!
Go well, Ory! I have followed your updates since, using them to update friends here in the UK on our own network, and even friends back home during that brief ‘media blackout’. We will miss you!
Asante sana, Mungu awe nawe…
Ory,
Thanks a million times, my husband and I appreciate all the information. It was highly needed. You are one of a kind–one hot mama who can juggle between a daughter, husband, blogging etc. Have a happy new year and travel safely.
i was wondering when u were leaving coz i dont think its that safe for the baby.
as much i depend on ur blog 4 updates.
we are kenyans..we will find a way to get informed.. ama?
otherwise Asante sana for a job well done.
Ory — THANK YOU SO MUCH ! You have been a God Send.
Your safety and your families safety is of atmost importance. You will still contribute from afar !
I appreciate the moderation and effort as you have helped keep this blog impartial.
This message was heartwarming, you truly brought me to tears. It must not have been an easy decision. So sorry that your family on both sides have been affected.
Travel safely Inshallah. God Bless
Thanks Ory sad to see you go but as a mother I understand. Thanks for keeping me up to date with events on the ground. I have also appreciated reading the comments of all those who post here. Thanks and best wishes.
God speed, Ory and thanx alot for the service you’re offering all of us (in Kenya and abroad).
Just a quick thought about tomorrow’s ‘peace’ rally. What we need right now as Kenyans is peace and supplies. If we could all step aside from the politics, we would realize that what we need most is to stay alive. If this rally was to go ahead and an open-air market was also facilitated at Uhuru Park with all the precious commodities that we have run out of like FOOD, more than a million people would definitely attend from all communities. Let’s face it, we’re fed up with the politics and the politicians are well-fed, have shelter, and have probably already booked their flights out of here if things get thick. Let’s wake up Kenyans. These guys don’t care about our problems. Why do we encourage them to continue hurting us?
Dear Ory,
Thanks for the updates. We are so grateful for your commitment to sharing news at such a trying time. Take care of your Dota, someday she will realise what we already know, that her mum is a mzalendo, who reassured innumerable Kenyans when few words could capture the situation.
Aluta continua, the defence through the pen and the voice will continue.
Thanks alot Ory for keeping us upadated with the situation in Kenya. That was so wonderful of you. i wish you all the best in your travel to Johanesburg.
Ory,
You’ve done a great job and we appreciate your committment and how well you articulate the issues and faithfully too. You are better safe to fight another day. We hope that your family is able to stay safe and that your mum is able to get her possessions out for now but be able to get back her business when a normal life resumes. Will it ever be normal – not like it was before these elections. Our leaders have failed us.
Go well and be safe. Jo’burgers will be happy to receive you.
Best wishes!
Asante mama. Best wishes & your family in all you do & go through.
Sad to see Kenya go down the drain! On xmas eve i travelled to Nakuru coz my dad wanted us to know our roots, my ailing uncle told us how he fought for our independence, i then realised how beautiful Kenya is from the landscapes to rich culture..now we will loose all that because of selfish and arrogant leaders.. aaaaaaaaaaaaah!it disgusts me!!
Anyway, Ory thanks for keeping us updated so far and wish you all the best ………………………
Have a safe journey Ory. I can empathise with how torn you feel. My family are at home, and I am not, it is hard. Their business is suffering too.
I discovered your blog last week, and it has helped my anxiety levels.
God bless and thank you, your blog is helping a lot of people.
Ory, I can empathize with your dilemma but family safety comes first. Thank you for your updates. I’ll continue to monitor your blog. Godspeed.
Thank you ever so much .
You are a true patriot that loves this country and it’s people so much-I marvel at the fact you even had to strugg;e to arrive at your decision in view of the small baby you have in tow, that’s is simply amazing!
Have a save and uneventful journey.
Ory
Thanks so so so much for your submissions.
Your have contributed so much to all of us Kenyans already.
Wish you all the best with life in JoBurg
take care and safe travels
Mahtma Gandhi once said
In this world there is enough for everyones needs
but there is not enough for even one persons greed
Kenya is now seriously in need because of the greed of a few people
All the best Ory….I hope Kenya does not go past the brink.but after Thursday anything can happen, let us pray.
By the way could you highlight any peace initiaves Kenyans, charirties etc that Kenyans @ home & abroad can participate in?
Take a Bow Girl.
You have done good and made your country proud.
Travel safe. Head & Chin up.
Ory
Thanks so much for the perfect job, we can understand your decision. We admired you so much for your courage. We’d like to wish you good luck and all the best to your family. We really appreciate the work of your network as we are very much aware of the risks you have all taken. It was all worth it. Wish you a safe trip to J’burg and hope you’ll soon be online again. We’d still like to read your opinion.
We are all anxiously anticipating what will happen kesho at Uhuru Park. Mungu Abariki Kenya!
Asante Sana
Anna and Friends in Germany
Many blessings to you and your family Ory, what you have done is amazing. thanks a million for your unbiased information at our time of need, I will keep checking your blog as we go along.
Asante sana for providing desperately needed information. I am in the US worrying about friends/family and wondering who I can harrass hear to try to get an improvement on the situation. I have been trying to harrass Barack Obama to make some statements about the violence and to play an active role in the process towards restoring peace b/c he is such a popular figure in Kenya. Let me know if you have any suggestions of what to say or anything else.
God be with your family and all Kenyans
Ory,
I echo all the accolades that have been heaped on your work by fellow consumers of your reliable and courageous reporting. Many thanks for a job well done and wish you safe travel.
May your immediate family find a safe harbour in Johannesburg and your extended family be safe from grief back home. I will light a candle that this situation will somehow miraculously find some end to the horrible violence.
Ory,
Thank you so much for keeping us updated on such crucial matters from home and especially at this very sad and tense time. Your efforts have been very much appreciated. Your family’s safety comes first.
Stay safe and God-speed!!
If u can, u are better off leaving, as things dont look good at this rate. Amos Kimunya has announced that they will not meet the Ghanain President and anyone else for that matter. He claims that Kenyans will sort themselves out and dont need help from outside. Mutua is accusing Raila of organising the massacre of those that were burnt alive at the Church. So the attitude by the so-called government is that they will not budge at any cost. No one seems to be in a mood for reconciliation. It looks like it gone be a long rough patch…a very long one
thanks and travel well. Kenya must Never Fall!
Hey Ory,
Before you leave, I wonder what contacts you have with any of the politicians? Many of us have messages we would like to relay to them but know of no channels to do so.
When these guys were campaigning, they were literally begging for our votes. Unless I am mistaken, only the presidential results are contentious.
When I cast my vote, I had 3 ballot papers:- 1 for the president, 1 for the MP, and 1 for the councillor. I wonder if any of your readers have seen (or heard of) their MP-elect or councillor-elect come to their areas in this time of crisis in our country. Not even to say ‘thank you for voting for us”. If this issue with the presidency is not resolved soon, does that mean that even our vote for the MPs and councillors was all in vain? Why then do we bother to vote? Many Kenyans have lost their lives, lost their homes, are going hungry, … Has any of the MPs who were there in the 9th parliament (considering their very hefty ‘retirement benefits’) even offered a donation to help suffering Kenyans ?
If you can get this message out to any of our leaders (outgoing and incoming), please tell them, “Shame on you all and may God judge you accordingly !!!”
Hope your family stays safe. Mine has gone into hiding in Molo and I hope they too will be fine. Your site is one we have relied on for accurate happenings in Kenya. Here, in the US, it is hard to trust the “independent” Kenyan media, but your site has bridged that gap, really.
Be safe.
Let Kenya live.
It was a hard decision to make but one that had to be made none the less. I hope for the best for you and your family during this turmoil.
I had sambazad your blog like bamba 50! All my friends here were getting up to date information from you! THANK YOU and God speed!
Ory, we shall miss your update, but your safety and that of your children are more important. Lets hope the affected members of ur family and all kenyans remain safe.
Have a nice journey,
Abdi.
Hi . . . you have to do what you have to do girl! totally understood. Thank you so much for all that you do for us kenyans! Safe trip!
Thank you for all the good work.
I pray that all your loved ones will
be safe.
I think we all understand your decision to leave-I know many Kenyans who are. This feels like a nightmare. For thsoe of you who wish to help, I enclode this urgent action. I am sitting in New York but am calling every friend I can and asking how we can help. See below:
URGENT ACTION: KORU
Dear Friends,
As you know a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Kenya. The IDP
Network is deeply concerned about the many displaced families across
the country. In some cases, as in Eldoret and Kuresoi people are
poorly protected and in many places the displaced have had no food for
days and are living without sanitation or shelter. Many more people
will die in Kenya if immediate action is not taken.
Today, we bring your attention to the 1500 people huddled around the
Police Station in Koru in Nyanza. They are Kikuyu, Kisii and Luo
families whose homes have been burnt and their means of livelihood
destroyed. They are being supported and provided with water by the
Koru Catholic Mission. In particular, Father Felix Otieno Atinda has
used his moral authority to help provide protection and is working
tirelessly to get whatever assistance possible but he has no access to
food. He is now in desperate need of food relief and some medical
assistance. The lack of sanitation is raising fears of disease
outbreaks.
Here is how you can help:
Donate to the Kenya Red Cross to assist their efforts across Kenya:
http://www.kenyaredcross.org. You can also write to them and let them
know about your concerns for the people of Koru.
If you have contacts in the Kisumu, Nakuru or Nairobi area that can
donate food and any other supplies contact National IDP Coordinator
Keffa Magenyi Karuoya at 0720 939432 or mkaruoya@yahoo.com.
Support Father Felix directly by wiring a donation to:
Koru Catholic Mission
Kenya Commercial Bank, Kisumu Branch
Account number: KCB 231580039
Swift Code: KCBLKENX077
We will send you up-dates but for more information contact:
Father Felix Otieno
Koru Catholic Mission
Tel 0721840827
IDP Network Coordinator
Keffa Magenyi Karuoya
0720 939432
Be well and do not give up hope.
Asante sana. I have relied on your blog to update my facebook friends and you have been a credible source for my blog updates. You have done more than enough. Your courage and audacity is to be mimicked.
I am proud of you.
Now run along and get your children and family to safety.
Godspeed and God Bless.
Dorothy
Ory,
Words cannot express our gratitude… For the last few days, you have been more than just an information provider to many of us. You are one in many. These past few days, we have almost felt like we know you, you have brought us closer, closer to home. We wish you well and your family too, and should you be in Italy, you know that you are welcome…
We all continue hoping for a miracle in Kenya…..
Keep well, keep safe
Ory,
Thank you for the courage to speak up when it may have been easier to stay silent. Your example has certainly reinforced that,
Living life with courage isnt always the easiest thing to do, but it sure feels good when you do it right!
I plan to live 2008 a little bit more courageously.
Hope to read more from you – God Bless!
Will there be any updates on the rest of parliamentary seats on mzalendo? I love you ory!
Yes there will be though it could take a bit of time.
Just learnt from my boss that his pal in the US Marine (and his squad) is being moved from Afghanistan to Kenya..they left yesturday
I’m glad you were there to give unbiased info when other blogs i visited had only inflamatory msgs.Have a nice flight. My wife is SouthAfrican so SA is also home for me.
[…] by kenyanobserver on January 2, 2008 Ory Okolloh, AKA, kenyanpundit, has kept us riveted on our computer screens for a long time now with her incisive reporting and […]
[…] Kenyan Pundit on the other hand is leaving Nairobi for Johannesburg. After lots of back and forth and mental anguish for me I have decided to head back to Johannesburg where I’m currently based. It’s been a tough day. I’m from a multi-ethnic background and I feel like I’m being hit on all sides – family stranded in Kericho, no word from family in Kisumu and Western, in-laws under siege in Nakuru, relatives businesses being looted at the Coast, my mother emptying out her two stalls at Kenyatta market and carrying out things in plastic bags and duffel bags because mobs have threatened to burn down the market tomorrow – that’s her livelihood – it’s bad enough that she’s had no business for most of December. We are all feeling so helpless and are reduced to platitudes like “let’s hope for the best†and all “we can do is pray†and “it will end soon†and “these guys need to do something†but all we are doing is masking our fear that we are on a precipice. Category: Africa | Comment (RSS) | Trackback […]
[…] elections from Kenya on her blog, Kenyan Pundit, and on Mzalendo, Kenyan blogger, Ory, is going back to South Africa: After lots of back and forth and mental anguish for me I have decided to head back to […]
[…] y legislativas de Kenia en su blog, Kenyan Pundit, y también en Mzalendo, la bloguera keniata Ory, vuelve a Sudáfrica, con emocionadas palabras de […]
[…] share their workload. Okolloh, who resides in Johannesburg, returned home on January 3rd, after a difficult debate over whether she should stay to document the crisis or prioritize the safety of her young child. […]
[…] share their workload. Okolloh, who resides in Johannesburg, returned home on January 3rd, after a difficult debate over whether she should stay to document the crisis or prioritize the safety of her young child. […]