Following the December 27th 2007 election, the opposition leader and the incumbent have clashed on the result of the vote. This precipitated a spiral of violence in Nairobi and particularly in the Rift valley that continues today. It is estimated that around 1000 people have died while a further 250,000 have fled their homes.

Already active in Kenya, ACTED intervenes to help the victims of the violence affecting people already living in critical conditions in the slums of Nairobi.

One of the areas most affected by the violence was the slum of Kibera, located on the southwest edge of Nairobi, where there was looting and rioting and where shops and churches were burned to the ground. Kibera is one of the largest slums in Africa and has a diverse population of up to 1 million. It is here that ACTED has begun a 4 month emergency food for work programme with the objectives of supporting local shops, improving food security and mitigating tensions among the different groups within Kibera, benefiting a total of 24,000 people.

At its height, the project will employ 250 men and women per day, selected with the assistance of community groups based within the slum, to clear the mounds of rubbish which have been growing since the post-election violence erupted. These workers will then be eligible to receive lunch at locally-run kitchens set up under the project by women's associations, as well as a daily voucher to be exchanged for approximately 2 euros worth of food items. Where possible, materials and equipment necessary to run the project, including rubbish-clearing tools and food will be purchased from local retailers, ensuring that the benefits of the programme are channeled into the local economy.

The project got off to a good start since it commenced on 21st January, with the the endorsement of local chiefs and Kibera-based organisations. However, in the extremely volatile political situation, the murder of an opposition MP on 28th January has again resulted in a wave of violent murders and protests within Kibera, leading to an increased atmosphere of fear and the closure of shops. Despite this, the food for work activities started on the 30th January with 119 workers.

Contact: ACTED Paris tel : +33 (0)1 42 65 33 33 / email : press(@)acted.org / www.acted.org