5 Feb 2008


KILLER SMILES!

Karibuni WaKenya!! Poleni Sana!! words that sound like music to the ears, after 15 days of turmoil and the fear of the unknown. Finally we reached the border of Namanga destined for Arusha, at last we would find repose. We left behind a trail of blood and homes shattered and burnt to the ground. In the killing fields that we once called home .... Kenya!

We saw some semblence of hope, light at the end of a long and dark tunnel, a tunnel that was slippery wet with blood and we stumbled upon dead bodies every step of the way... but finally here we were at last in Arusha, we had reached the light we had so longed to reach. But wait.... the light was moving .... not away.... but towards us! and the speed was break-neck, this was a light of an on-coming train that was hurtling towards us to crash us to oblivion!

Apart from the words "Karibuni WaKenya, Poleni Sana" everything else that was encountered from the authorities in Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam was programmed to either stress us to death or laugh silently at our plight.

All we ask from you is a chance to give us room to use as a stepping stone, a signature is all we ask for that you grant us a safe passage to restart to rebuild our broken lives and mend our tortured hearts. We ask that you mean it when you say "Poleni Sana" and not to take it as an opportunity to suppress us.

All we ask, is that you do not treat us as the enemy, we have run to you for refuge, stop turning your backs on us, whilst you pretend that you are doing all you can to help.

We ask that you do the right thing, the humane thing and stop the double standards. Stop saying one thing and doing the opposite, it is people's lives at stake. People who have seen more hurt and misery than neccessary. Please don't add to it. A person can only take so much! Stop sugar coating your unkind gestures with "kind words".

         - Diana