Ex-members of African Children's Choir caught up in Kenyan violence

REPORTS are emerging of attacks and displacement of former members of the African Children's Choir following the violence in Kenya in the wake of the recent presidential elections. In the Rift Valley, Eldoret was the worst hit in the recent violence. Lucy and Grace (from one of the numerous choirs who tour the world under the name African Children's Choir and are known internally as Choir 10) live there. Their homes were looted and they have been displaced from their houses. Another former Choir 10 member, Peter Kagwe was shot with an arrow which had to be surgically removed from his body at a health centre while two other former members Katherine and Carol had their homes looted. In the Kibera slum, Florence of Choir 15 is safe but had to flee from her home.

Following the attacks African Children's Choir founder Ray Barnett announced help for both Choir children and others who have suffered under the violence. He said, "While parts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, seem to be peaceful at the moment, our Choir children who come from different parts the country - from the slums of Kibera, Kisumu, Eldoret and Mombasa, are affected by the violence. Kibera and Eldoret are among the worst affected areas. Those of our Choir children who have lost their homes are scattered, sheltering in different churches and our staff on the ground can't easily get to them. We are doing our best at this time to locate them as we would like to help them rebuild homes that have been burnt, replace school uniforms and other basic items that have been destroyed. We anticipate that substantial help will be needed to assist us to do this and urge you to help us, help them both financially and through prayer."