IMC Temporarily Suspends Medical Services in Eldoret After Second Politician is Killed

Photo: Natalia Cieslik

Dr. Jeff Goodman and Jane Bauni treat a displaced woman and her child close to Eldoret.

Eldoret, Kenya - After a second member of the Kenyan opposition party was shot on Thursday in the western town of Eldoret International Medical Corps suspended services in the area. The seven member mobile medical team was treating displaced people inside a church about five kilometers out of town when the shooting occurred.

“We will resume medical services as soon as the security situation allows us to return to the displaced settlements,” says Dr. Jeff Goodman, medical adviser with the IMC emergency response team. “People have been living in difficult conditions for weeks now and their health is affected by this.”

The IMC emergency response coordinator in the clinic said more and more people came running into the church when they heard about the killing. The small building has housed more than 300 people over the last weeks that have fled fighting or were forced out of their homes during recent post-election violence.

Photo: Natalia Cieslik

More than 300 people are staying at the Harvest Miracle Center Church close to Eldoret.

When the news of the attack spread, the Eldoret city center emptied within minutes and businesses shut down completely. Police say that the crime is not politically motivated and called Kenyans to remain calm over the incident. At least one business was set ablaze.

International Medical Corps is running medical clinics around Eldoret where tens of thousands have been displaced. About 15,000 are currently settling in the city’s showground but the majority of people are staying in small camps, churches and other locations in the countryside.

IMC medical staff had seen 104 patients at the church and another 52 were waiting when the clinic had to be closed for security reasons. Most of the patients there suffer from upper respiratory infections. Other prevalent conditions are malaria and diarrhea. The majority of displaced lost all of their belongings and are now sleeping without blankets and mosquito nets.

Efforts to assist the 250,000 displaced Kenyans have been hampered by lack of security in many areas.