MURUGI SEEKS HELP TO LOOK AFTER ORPHANS....So it was reported in the Daily Nation recently. Who is this Murugi? The Hon. Esther Murugi is Kenya's Minister for Gender, Children and Social services. All Charitable Children's Institutions have to be Registered with her Ministry through the Kenya Children's Department which is under its Authority. The Nation reported -

'ORPHANS have overwhelmed the government which is appealing for assistance from religious and charity organisations. The Minster (left) said that the government was supporting over 2.5 million orphans and its limited resources were overwhelmed.'

However, her Ministry has stated that by 2020 there will be no need of Children's Homes because there will be no more needy children. They will all have been absorbed into Foster Homes - taken in by existing families and fostered. This is obviously not looking as if it will actually happen! It is, therefore, rather surprising that the Minister is not thanking the Churches, NGOs and other Charitable bodies that are already assisting and helping. Nationwide there are hundreds upon hundreds of such organisations pouring out money, care and effort, without cost to the government, in order to help provide for the growing number of orphans. The government has previously stated that there are more than 2 million children still NEEDING care within Kenya, probably additionally to the 2.5 million the Minister is claiming are already being cared for by the State, plus ALL of those already cared for by privately funded Homes across the Country.

LAST YEAR, as I have previously noted in this Blog, a Team was sent from the National Council of Social Services (working with the Ministry) to Eldoret, where all those working for and amongst needy children were gathered together, and told we were doing nothing. Of the 14 or so currently Registered Charitable Children's Homes in our area it can be said that they care for more than 2000 children placed in their care by the Kenya Juvenile Court at the instigation of the Kenya Children's Department. This care is financed entirely by unsolicited donations and gifts and also other funding brought in freely from overseas sponsors. The Kenya Government pays nothing for it and contributes nothing to it - APART from giving permission, at a cost, for such work to be carried on.

Testimony Faith Homes which is, as most of you know, a work of faith and trust in God, depending upon Him alone to provide without making public appeals or directly soliciting money to carry on its work, cares for a daily average through any year of 140 children.

This costs us approximately Ksh.18million per annum .

As a British Citizen directing this enterprise, unpaid, I must pay Ksh.100,000/- annually to the Government in order to obtain permission to be in Kenya voluntarily helping its children.

Additionally Testimony Faith Homes must apply for Re-Registration of itself as a Registered Charitable Children's Institution every three years at an approximate cost of Ksh.50,000 ----

(3000/- for registration. 24,000/- for Police Certificates of Good Conduct procured for each member of staff. 23,000 for Medicals arranged again for each member of staff, plus other small fees along the way.) We are just ONE of countless others. Quite a little revenue is being collected from those already saving the Country billions of shillings.

It is hard to see why the government should be so willing to take more and more money from those it is already receiving so much assistance from. It is a if we have to be charged for the privilege of caring for and spending our lives and energies for Kenya's children. Ksh.100,000/- ++.per year, could be used on helping more children if the government were to exempt us from these Charges. It as if, on top of, helping with lightening the load for the Government it also wants to make money on the side from it. Not encouraging. This attitude has come about only in the last two or three years.

When Testimony started in the 70's we were thanked and appreciated for the then small effort we were making. On being Registered as a recognised Children's Home, no charge was made. Every two or three months the Children's Department would visit and inspect us. No charge was made, and we would carry on - no need to RE-register -- until 2007, and now AGAIN this year of 2010. AND, of course the mere fact that this Exercise has to be carried and out and repeated every three years promotes a sense of insecurity and makes it difficult to really plan ahead. Even the children we care for, who realise what is happening, are left wondering if they will still have a home to live in at the end of 2013. It is unsettling, and costly to run a CCI in Kenya today.

HON. Murugi, all we who are here helping already, are glad and happy to be doing so, but it would be nice to be noted, nice to be appreciated - and perhaps some assistance given in being exempted from onerous and expensive charges put upon us and the work we do.

+++++++++++++++++++

There are times when all our staff come together for a working lunch. Houseparents, cooks, cleaners, groundsmen, office staff. This gives us an opportunity to fellowship, share a meal, and also discuss the progress and situation in the Homes. The School staff, including Teachers, do the same, and this has proved to be an excellent way of keeping in touch with each other and promoting good relations generally.

AND of course it re-focuses each of us on the whole reason and purpose of being part of Testimony - both the School and HOMES - to promote the welfare and protection of children in need. There are always plenty of them waiting for the chance to come IN, from outside.

ELDORET streets are more and more inundated with children living on them, away from home, homeless, and totally at risk. All day they roam the town seeking food, money, anything. At night some return to their poverty stricken homes in the slums, and others huddle together in what are called 'Barracks" their own name for their camps. SMALL kids of both sexes, some with disability, some sharp and intelligent beyond their years. Some already grown up into the teens, and married with babes in arms. Day by day they learn more and more the world has to teach them. Some of them will grow up to be thugs and muggers, others will just live and die, helpless on the street. Many of them (far too many) already with HIV and AIDS. Not a happy or encouraging prospect. There must be more than 1000 within Eldoret Town alone. They need to be scooped up and accommodated in one big Institution that will provide safety, education, and a future life. There are just too many to distribute or even accommodate in family sized children's homes like our own. My heart aches for them every time I am in town. I look at their little faces and just wish I could be 28 again and full of energy and adventure...........

Esther and I are very fine and well! We Praise the Lord. We have been very busy administratively this week, and have felt no ill effects. It is good to be back on track and we thank you all for your prayers. God Bless you each and every one.

John & Esther