Well yesterday I went for a nice little run that consisted of paying bills, getting some veggies and fruits from the market, and then getting some groceries along the way. When I got home, my roommate was glued to the TV as scenes from a pipeline explosion that had happened that morning down the road from where we work were being shown. The feeling that I began to feel were similar to that of what I felt when I was in the 8th grade when I saw the scenes from 9-11. My stomach and heart ached for those who were being rushed to the hospital with their flesh literally peeling off their faces. It was heart-aching to see the pain and loss that this community was feeling. And the thing about all of this is that it could have been avoided, and yet at the same time, it was destined to happen.
For those of you who haven't read the news, the Mukuru slum is located on top of a gas pipeline, with the company's site right next store. There have been reports and pleas from reporters and journalists the last year urging the people in this slum to live elsewhere, but they have refused to move and say they won't unless the government pays for them to move. The thing is this is their livelihood. Their church, school for their children, their friends, all live there, so why would they move, even if there is a threat to their livelihood under their homes. It has been said that there have been several leaks in the pipeline this last year, but none of them ended like this. The explosion is believed to have started by the news of the pipeline's leak and people rushing from far distances in their vehicles to fill jugs and canteens with the gas to sell, however, the explosion was believed to have started it by a cigarette butt.
As of late, I have been having talks with some friends about the mentality of the people who live in the slum and it really is unbelievable. These are the people that you read about in the BBC reports that talk about people living on less than a dollar a day. And let me tell you, that dollar that they have to work for is earned or "hustled" in any and every way possible, even at the risk of their lives. In this particular circumstance, the gas pipeline sprung a leak. I have not heard how the leak came about, but the reality is that people in the slums have their ways that they are able to gain access to the line with a certain pump and sell what they call "paraffin" (kerosene). My house help actually asked for money two weeks ago to buy the pump and start selling it.
Besides the reality that this is a very dangerous business, it is also stealing. But the slum mentality sees it simply as a "means to an end" and a way to make that buck or for them, provide their family or themselves. Yes, this could have been prevented but the government has yet to solve this problem. The only thing I keep hearing from their leaders are: "this was a tragic accident" and "Kenya has so many problems." I only hope and pray that we don't have to wait for another disaster like this to happen before change comes about..
I know that God is in this place and that He is here with us, but we need change and it needs to happen... sooner rather than later. So let's get to work.
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