HOME LOOTED AND THEN BURNT IN POST ELECTION VIOLENCE
GEORGE MURIITHI GICHORA
Student Number: 04-1052
Major: Community Development
I come from a family
of eight children: four sons and four daughters. I am
the third born son of the Late Joseph Gichora
Karanja and Grace Wangui Gichora.
I was born on 2nd May 1975 in Rift Valley Province,
Nakuru District, Njoro Division, and Kihingo Sub-location.
A few minutes after
the announcement of presidential race results in Kenya,
the silence was broken. About 500 youths approached our
village singing war songs and immediately started torching
houses and killing innocent residents. They also drove
us away from our homes and looted everything else that
remained like maize and livestock.
My family suffered a great
loss because our three timber houses were set ablaze.
Our food reserve of maize was looted and we were displaced
from our home. My mother, brothers and sisters are now
camping at Naishi Catholic Church without adequate supply
of food and clean water. They also lack clothing as they
could not salvage anything. Their security is threatened
by the same people who attacked us because they are still
looting iron sheets from the remnant homesteads.
Being a 4th year
student, I have so far covered 103 credit hours inclusive
of the 12 hours registered
this semester. I still have 27 hours remaining which will
cost me Kshs.138,375 (US$2,000)
in tuition fee and other costs amounting to Kshs.150,000
(US$2,200).
God was on my side this semester
because a friend offered to pay 12 credit hours for me.
My mother who has been my principal sponsor is totally
unable to assist because of the post-election crisis and
its aftermath. She was a farmer and depended on what came
out of the farm to cater for me.
Any assistance accorded will
be highly appreciated. Thank you and God bless you.
To donate to assist these
students, follow this link: http://daystarus.org/donate/donation.htm
(under gift description list the 'Hero Fund')