Most of our program areas are quite okay except for Nairobi where most of the beneficiaries are in no go zones and I believe some have been displaced. We have three groups starting in Naivasha- Gilgil and Mai Mahiu under a partnership with Life Bloom and I understand from Catherine their Executive Director that they are continuing with training arrangements as we trained their trainers in December. Also note that we have talked to all our trainers and they are safe.

We are grateful for all the support we are getting from all of you and hope we can get back to a situation where we can do even more to elevate the lives of Kenyans so that they can make rational decisions. I am attaching a letter from Stephen who was a beneficiary of our program in 2002 and who has accomplished a lot and having gone through the program helped him to shape his future- this is long term results that you may not be able to measure immediately after the training. I have not met Stephen but would like to meet him and let him talk to some of our groups for inspiration.

Schools open this week and we are positive the trainings will go on as they started last year. We aim to complete by September. Let us all stand united and keep praying for our great Nation.

NOTE: In 2001, Olooseos was a co-educational school. The next year it became a girls-only secondary school.

From Stephen Meja

Dear Friends and Supporters of Project Baobab,

I received this encouraging message from Jane early this morning. At least things are not getting worse and in many areas considerably better. As some of you may know, I, and two of our volunteers were going to Kenya on February 8th. We are monitoring the situation closely.

Regardless of whether I go, I am confident in our Kenyan leadership to keep Project Baobab strong. Our work is more important than ever as Jane’s message attest to.

Have a good week,
Gee Gee

From Jane Kunyiha:
Dear Gee Gee and Tiffany,
This is to thank you most sincerely for your concernsabout us and the violence that is taking place in our country. I thank you and all our friends at Project Baobab and those who have been calling to wish us well and know how we are and whether we are safe.

Our areas are peaceful and we are safe and food is tricking backas shops and markets open in peaceful areas. Nairobi our capital city is fine within the Central business District but some of the estates especially low incomeones and slums have a lot of violence and protests. Some of the rural areas with mixed communities in Rift Valley and Western Kenya have a lot of displacement of people some of them our relatives and friends whose homes have been burnt.

Some have lost their lives and everything they owned. The situation has improved in the last three days and those who have been displaced are being evacuated from those areas. There are a lot of local peace initiatives providing food, clothing and medicine for the displaced who are living in police stations, play fields and church compounds. Red Cross has moved in to areas with people living without shelter.

There are many calls for peace and voices of reason and they are bearing fruit, in addition a lot of prayers for peace and messages asking people not to turn against each other are being delivered through media and other means. We are positive that the situation will not deteriorate any further. We are looking forward to a peaceful solution being found.

We as Project Baobab staff are okay and our areas still calm- Jane and Family, Ruth and her family. Our trainers are okay though some of the trainees may be displaced as there is a lot of movements in Nairobi where Ngara Girls is located and estates where some trainees live. Other areas like Meru- Kinjo/ Ruiga, Miguta, Oloseos are peaceful. Narok- Maasai has some skirmishes especially the Town where some of the trainees started business though calm has returned.

We are hopeful that all will be well and we can return to normal and work even harder to bridge the poverty gap as this is a major cause of conflict- especially having a lot of youth turning to the streets looting and destroying property.

Please continue praying with us that we come out of this stronger as a nation. Please Gee Gee send this to our friends and we will keep you updated.

Best regards.
Jane Kunyiha
Country Director
Project BAOBAB

Dear Friends and Supporters of Project Baobab,

We are deeply saddened by the increasingly grim reports about the Kenya presidential election crisis. Not only does the situation impact the political and economic stability of Kenya, we are concerned for the safety of our staff, teachers and students, mentors, Board members, and Advisory Council. I have been in touch with Jane Kunyiha and Ruth Kironji (staff) and they are safe, although food is becoming increasingly scarce. They are staying at home until the situation improves.

Wambui Kihanya is a Kenyan Project Baobab board member who lives in Seattle. Her brother, and our treasurer Francis Kihanya, returned to Kenya last year. Last night she talked with Francis and gave us the attached update just now. I wanted to share the situation firsthand with all of you and will continue to do so as we get more information.

Gee Gee Williams,
Founder & Executive Director

From Wambui Kihanna:

Gee Gee,
After we talked yesterday, I was able to get through to Francis. He and I both appreciated your concern for our family and the unfortunate violence and sad state of affairs in Kenya.

It is not clear how things will move forward from current state. This is major challenge and a surprise that it turned so sour and so quickly and that tribal/ethnic issues are being fueled, people are being beaten and even killed. What is even more surprising is despite the fact there have been tribal concerns, for many Kenyans and friends of Kenya, there are usually no conscious decisions to leave out certain tribes/ethnic groups in development and resources.

A lot of the trouble and violence is in isolated places most of which are the slums like Kibera and other poor areas but it is spreading. It is spreading fueled by the passing of time with no fair solution, anger about the violence and deaths, and the loss of hope and faith in the leaders and lack of supplies as businesses stay closed. Poverty/economic empowerment is a big part of this struggle.

Gee Gee, Project Baobab is a great program and in Francis’ words, “it’s even more critical now that PB stays the course of good work in Kenya”. We are doing the best we can with the youth in Kenya, helping them to be economically empowered so they can be our future ethical leaders. We have a lot of support in Kenya and the US from various people, institutions and donors. It must be difficult for our supporters and donors to see this situation and they must be asking a lot of questions. While we don’t have answers for how things will unfold, for Project Baobab, when the situation is resolved, and it will, there will be even more work to be done. Can we ask for their continued support? We still need their support.

We can only hope that that both Kibaki and Raila will come to a compromise for the sake of the people soon. I am headed back from lunch and we will be in touch and keep praying a workable solution is found and put in place soon.

Regards,
Wambui

**************************************************************
January 3, 2008

Dear Project Baobab Supporters and Friends,

I received this from Sam Waweru this morning. Sam is on our Advisory Council and is the Chief Financial Officer for Gertrude hospital in Nairobi. Thank you for your concern and interest as demonstrated in the number of people who wrote back after yesterday’s update.

Believe that peace will come,
Gee Gee

Dear Gee Gee,

Happy New Year!

We truly appreciate your concern for those of us in Kenya during this difficult moment in our history. We are all holding onto the hope that the situation will normalize. The violence has been very intense in the slum neighborhoods but a lot of business cannot be transacted due to logistical challenges, barricaded roads, riotous mobs and security checkpoints. The City Centre is however still relatively intact with no real cases of looting or damage.

I am safe with my family and though the prices of essential goods have skyrocketed, the situation is still manageable. I resumed work on Wednesday and it has been possible to access my office since it is in the relatively safe neighborhoods. We are an essential service provider and can’t close, being in healthcare service.

I am certain we will pull through this one and Kenya will rise again and will not go the Liberia/Sierra Leone/Somali way.

We covet your prayers at this crucial time as we wait for a political solution.

Thanks and we will keep in touch.
Sam Waweru