Shalom City
Shalom City: Location: About 15 miles from Nakuru town in the Rift Valley of Kenya
Year Founded: 2009
Their Story: The Kenyan post-electoral violence in December 2007 to January 2008 left many families homeless and condemned to a sudden state of poverty. As an initial step in assisting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the Kenyan government gave each family Ksh. 10,000 ($133) to help them re-settle. This was hardly enough to purchase farming land or to put up a house for those who could no longer go back to their original homes. Besides, most people were already starving and many used the money to feed their families. 28 year-old Peter Kariuki dared to do something different; he began to mobilize willing family heads to pool their money and plan together. Of the 60,000 people living in the IDP camp with Peter, about 3,000 families - a total of over 10,000 people - responded to Peter's invitation. They developed a plan long before the government funds were availed. As wise farmers, they knew better than to use all of the seed money on their immediate needs. Instead, they put their funds into a common account and collectively purchased a 50-acre piece of land in the Nyandarua District. They have since moved to their new home which they call Shalom City. Hear Peter tells his story in his own words in this radio interview. Listen here.
Peace and Reconciliation: The individuals who were forced to flee their homes in fear of their lives in 2007 want to ensure that no one in Kenya ever has this fear again. They work daily to spread the message about the need for peace and reconciliation in Kenya to avoid future violence.
Rebuilding of Lives: Each family in Shalom City must rebuild a life by securing housing, income, education, and other basic necessities. They have the help of a community that works together to provide a decent life for all without concern for tribe or other divisions.
Advocating for Internally Displaced People: The majority of displaced people in Kenya are still waiting on the 2.25 acres and additional funds the government has promised to each family that was internally displaced in December 2007. Peter and others in Shalom City regularly meet with, petition, and negotiate with government officials to work for the promises made to the tens of thousands of displaced people to be fulfilled. They will not stop their advocacy work until the last person has settled on a safe piece of land and can truly start rebuilding their lives.
Community Agriculture: The vision of Shalom City is to be an eco-village where 67+ acres of land is cooperatively farmed and the products are sold to generate income for all the families.
Permanent Place of Refuge: Each year on December 27th the thousands of families that communally own the land of Shalom City gathers on site for a day of prayer and remembrance. They pray for peace for their country and remember why Shalom City exists. Even those families that have resettled on new land have Shalom City as a permanent place of refuge in case of future violence. In this way, the 3,000 families who own Shalom City will never have to be internally displaced again because they have a home at Shalom City if they ever need it.
Radio Interview with Peter Kariuki on WUNC radio Peter attends Annual Gathering Hosted by Duke Center for Reconciliation Community Dreams for a Cooperative Future
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