Ground-breaking talks have at last been held to end Kenya’s political crisis but any agreement still looks a long way off.
For the first time in nearly a month, president Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have met face-to-face but after the handshakes, new recriminations started flying.
Since the meeting, fresh violence has erupted in the Rift Valley capital, Nakuru.
Earlier this week seven people were killed in Kipkelion and 70 houses burned in the Aldai area of Rift Valley province, report UN security officials.
In addition, five people were shot dead and 30 shops burned in Trans Nzioa, while four people were killed in Korogocho, Huruma and Mathare slums.
In the month since the disputed general election result, violence has claimed 685 lives and 255,000 people have fled their homes, with many arriving at camps for the displaced.
Peter Njuguna, project manager of St John’s Community Centre, a Tearfund partner working in Nairobi’s slum areas, said the situation was still volatile.
‘In Nairobi, it is still tense especially in the slums because people whose houses have been burnt down have nowhere to go,’ said Peter.
Insecurity is affecting the work of the St John’s Community Centre, as staff are having to end their working day early to avoid attack on the way home in the evening.
Yet they are still trying to provide for people’s basic needs, finding them food, clothing and shelter.
In the case of 20 families, Peter’s project is looking to provide small funds of capital to help them re-start businesses.
Peter says the church in Kenya is playing a vital role in assisting people.
In some places it is literally providing sanctuary from violence, in others it is providing food and clothing.
It’s also helping people deal with the emotional scars of the aftermath: ‘We have been meeting with pastors and addressing issues of reconciliation and conflict,’ added Peter.