Everlyne
Everlyne is a teacher in the Turkana community of Kapedo. She is a member of our team. She has suffered tremendously as a result of the conflict and has lost many of her family members. She is committed to helping the orphans of Kapedo to have full and productive futures by providing education and support for them. Here is her amazing story:
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE
I salute every reader of this page. My sharing in this page is to seek for your timely prayers of HOPE. I beg you stand with me the way Aaron and Caleb stood to support Moses.
I am 35 years old single (woman) (widow) and a mother of two. My name is Everlyne Ekaudu a primary teacher in Kapedo, Turkana County.
My sharing with you in this page is to give you a picture of what life in Kapedo is all about. For the 35 years that God has granted me life in Kapedo, I have faced many challenges, mostly “DEATH”. Death first knocked on my door in 1993 immediately after I joined form (grade) 1. This was the worst year of my life. On 3rd Nov, 1993, I lost six members of my family the same day; my father, my father’s brother, my mum, my aunt’s first son and other two cousins. The six met their death on their way to Kapedo centre for an animal auction. Unfortunately they were ambushed by bandits. Woe! To me! The burden of my siblings' upbringing, school fees and all basic needs was upon my shoulders at the age of 15.
This year a happy valentine was not mine; instead of wishing my friends happy valentine’s day, it was grief in my compound. MY valentine’s day started with the burial of my brother who was shot very early in the morning at our school gate. And because my brother was already a widower, I was left with another two orphans to care for.
Do not be surprised, for I am not the only one in this valley of death who has suffered. Many families have lost their beloved ones through this raid, others have been disabled, and others have sustained forever bullets scars. And many have died, even the government officers to mention but a few. Since 1990 to 2012 we have lost our two nominated councilors, two ECD, teachers who were shot while traveling by a Catholic vehicle. Six primary pupils were shot while fishing, a High school student while on his way back home, a school cook and his two brothers were shot while tending their goats. And unnumbered women who have met their death on their way to firewood, water points and even at their homes. I have mentioned just a few occurrences but we are losing people every year and almost every month.
Finally, at the beginning of this year we lost our area chief. He lost his life while reporting back to his work after Christmas holiday. As a result there are many deserving poor in this centre, e.g. orphans, widows, widowers and many disabled people.
These daily conflicts have affected not only individuals but also the community as a whole. The conflicts between the Pokots and the Turkana community have resulted in many problems.
Displacement; many people have left their original habitat because of insecurity. Many of them are the so called (IDPs) found all over Kenya.
Loss of lives; The number of people who have died from gun shots or raids cannot be estimated. The thousand graves found in Kapedo center are not as a result of diseases or old age, but gun shot.
High dependency rate. Due to loss of lives, properties, and animals, the number of deserving poor is mounting every year causing high pressure on the government, NGOs and on individuals.
Restricted Movement. The residents of Kapedo do not enjoy freedom of movement. Moving 500m away home, you are at risk to catch a bullet and forever sleep. So water points and firewood areas are bandits' grounds.
There is low enrollment in schools due to daily gun shots, killings, and attacks. Many parents have moved with children to safer areas, leaving the area’s schools with few pupils. Teachers also have asked for transfers to escape death.
Transportation
To worsen the situation vehicles transporting relief food, people, drugs and other life necessities are shot by the bandits who block even the roads. So any vehicle passing Kapedo route or entering Kapedo has to be escorted by security officers who have also faced death.
As a result of this conflict, the Pokot and the Turkana communities have remained behind on development. Many of their children are not in school; there are no good roads; they are not connected like the rest of the world and they are not aware of the new technology that the rest of the world is enjoying. As a resident of Kapedo and the most affected, I am asking for your prayers, help and commitment to “PEACE”. So as
I. To identify the problem
II. To look for solution
III. To seek alternatives
IV. To analyze the cause
V. To seek truth, justice and righteousness.
VI. To bring back forgiveness to the broken relationship with God, human beings and all creation.
VII. To bring change and development of the original habitat
VIII. To stop displacement of people (IDPs)
IX. To start resettlement schemes
X. To affirm the role of the church and to sow the seed of “LOVE” through the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5.22
My dear friends, before you sympathize with me, with my people and my area think constantly in terms of I CAN, I WILL, and I AM. As your role model on the ground I have identified my task in this peace mission. Are you ready to hold up my hands like Aron and Caleb? Please sacrifice your time, talents, money and your body for the sake of saving Kapedo Community (People, Assets and the orphans in particular).
I hope you will share my testimony with others, but don’t get scared to visit Kapedo and witness this trajedy yourself. The place is adorned with many beautiful scenes e.g. Hot-springs, Waterfalls and many other world wonders. KARIBU (Welcome). Finally have a Happy New Year.
With all our Love from,
EVERLYNE N. EKAUDU
Below, Everlyne stands with the community at the site of the planned orphan shelter.
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE
I salute every reader of this page. My sharing in this page is to seek for your timely prayers of HOPE. I beg you stand with me the way Aaron and Caleb stood to support Moses.
I am 35 years old single (woman) (widow) and a mother of two. My name is Everlyne Ekaudu a primary teacher in Kapedo, Turkana County.
My sharing with you in this page is to give you a picture of what life in Kapedo is all about. For the 35 years that God has granted me life in Kapedo, I have faced many challenges, mostly “DEATH”. Death first knocked on my door in 1993 immediately after I joined form (grade) 1. This was the worst year of my life. On 3rd Nov, 1993, I lost six members of my family the same day; my father, my father’s brother, my mum, my aunt’s first son and other two cousins. The six met their death on their way to Kapedo centre for an animal auction. Unfortunately they were ambushed by bandits. Woe! To me! The burden of my siblings' upbringing, school fees and all basic needs was upon my shoulders at the age of 15.
This year a happy valentine was not mine; instead of wishing my friends happy valentine’s day, it was grief in my compound. MY valentine’s day started with the burial of my brother who was shot very early in the morning at our school gate. And because my brother was already a widower, I was left with another two orphans to care for.
Do not be surprised, for I am not the only one in this valley of death who has suffered. Many families have lost their beloved ones through this raid, others have been disabled, and others have sustained forever bullets scars. And many have died, even the government officers to mention but a few. Since 1990 to 2012 we have lost our two nominated councilors, two ECD, teachers who were shot while traveling by a Catholic vehicle. Six primary pupils were shot while fishing, a High school student while on his way back home, a school cook and his two brothers were shot while tending their goats. And unnumbered women who have met their death on their way to firewood, water points and even at their homes. I have mentioned just a few occurrences but we are losing people every year and almost every month.
Finally, at the beginning of this year we lost our area chief. He lost his life while reporting back to his work after Christmas holiday. As a result there are many deserving poor in this centre, e.g. orphans, widows, widowers and many disabled people.
These daily conflicts have affected not only individuals but also the community as a whole. The conflicts between the Pokots and the Turkana community have resulted in many problems.
Displacement; many people have left their original habitat because of insecurity. Many of them are the so called (IDPs) found all over Kenya.
Loss of lives; The number of people who have died from gun shots or raids cannot be estimated. The thousand graves found in Kapedo center are not as a result of diseases or old age, but gun shot.
High dependency rate. Due to loss of lives, properties, and animals, the number of deserving poor is mounting every year causing high pressure on the government, NGOs and on individuals.
Restricted Movement. The residents of Kapedo do not enjoy freedom of movement. Moving 500m away home, you are at risk to catch a bullet and forever sleep. So water points and firewood areas are bandits' grounds.
There is low enrollment in schools due to daily gun shots, killings, and attacks. Many parents have moved with children to safer areas, leaving the area’s schools with few pupils. Teachers also have asked for transfers to escape death.
Transportation
To worsen the situation vehicles transporting relief food, people, drugs and other life necessities are shot by the bandits who block even the roads. So any vehicle passing Kapedo route or entering Kapedo has to be escorted by security officers who have also faced death.
As a result of this conflict, the Pokot and the Turkana communities have remained behind on development. Many of their children are not in school; there are no good roads; they are not connected like the rest of the world and they are not aware of the new technology that the rest of the world is enjoying. As a resident of Kapedo and the most affected, I am asking for your prayers, help and commitment to “PEACE”. So as
I. To identify the problem
II. To look for solution
III. To seek alternatives
IV. To analyze the cause
V. To seek truth, justice and righteousness.
VI. To bring back forgiveness to the broken relationship with God, human beings and all creation.
VII. To bring change and development of the original habitat
VIII. To stop displacement of people (IDPs)
IX. To start resettlement schemes
X. To affirm the role of the church and to sow the seed of “LOVE” through the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5.22
My dear friends, before you sympathize with me, with my people and my area think constantly in terms of I CAN, I WILL, and I AM. As your role model on the ground I have identified my task in this peace mission. Are you ready to hold up my hands like Aron and Caleb? Please sacrifice your time, talents, money and your body for the sake of saving Kapedo Community (People, Assets and the orphans in particular).
I hope you will share my testimony with others, but don’t get scared to visit Kapedo and witness this trajedy yourself. The place is adorned with many beautiful scenes e.g. Hot-springs, Waterfalls and many other world wonders. KARIBU (Welcome). Finally have a Happy New Year.
With all our Love from,
EVERLYNE N. EKAUDU
Below, Everlyne stands with the community at the site of the planned orphan shelter.
