MISTERSEED CLASSIFIED Habari

Peter Gichura, a father, a wheelchair user and disability activist from Kenya was 'Captured' and detained last Thursday and told that he would be deported tomorrow Wednesday 30th August. He is on hunger strike in Harmondsworth IRC.

In 2001, he claimed asylum from persecution for his political disability rights activity after fleeing Kenya in fear for his life because of repeated violence and intimidation, including death threats from the authorities. When interviewed by the Home Office shortly after arrival, he was in pain, exhausted and lacking legal representation, resulting in minor discrepancies which the Home Office seized on to dismiss his application and subsequent appeals.

His recent detention comes just days after he took part in the 'Claim the Buses' wheelchair users’ action organised by 'Transport for All', and was interviewed on ITV's London Tonight (ITN, 21 August) unable to board a 24 bus. He was one of 250 wheelchair users taking part on the day. Mr. Gichura is widely known and respected, and was released after huge public support and media interest when he was detained previously in February (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4742948.stm).

Around 10 per cent of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. They are the world's largest minority.

"The existing human rights system was meant to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, but the existing standards and mechanism have in fact failed to provide adequate protection to the specific cases of persons with disabilities." Louise Arbour UNHRC

Mr. Gichura launched a legal case under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and Human Rights Act (HRA) about the appalling conditions in Harmondsworth detention centre. He could not use the toilet or bath facilities, was denied essential medication and was searched in a painful and threatening way, all of which resulted in a deterioration of his health. The case is still pending, this is when the authorities chose to put him back in Harmondsworth, in the same conditions, with just two working days to appeal against the refusal of the fresh claim. Mr. Gichura's case under the DDA and HRA is likely to set an important precedent establishing what responsibility the authorities have towards people with disabilities who are also asylum seekers, and all who are asylum seekers, which will have crucial implications for the entitlement of all of us to care and humane treatment.

The public may not be aware that the Home Office and courts have dismissed disability and health grounds for asylum even when someone's life will be shortened if sent back. The threshold set for exceptions to this is so high that lawyers say no one can satisfy that test. People with disabilities and ill-health are treated as entirely expendable. These attacks on vulnerable disabled people are 'part & parcel' of the government's 'inhumane and unjust' asylum policies.

How you can help keep the Peter in the UK
Peter with the help of *Payday have set up a campaign to keep Peter in the UK. Fax/write to Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration, using the model letter 'Attached', which you can copy/amend/write your own.

Fax: 020 7035 4745 from outside the UK + 44 20 7035 4745

Or write to:
Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration
Home Office, 3rd Floor, Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF

Please take time to notify the campaign of any letters/faxes sent:
Peter Must Stay
PO Box 287
London
NW6 5QU
Tel 020 7209 4751
Fax 020 7209 4761

Bernard Njoroge and Anne Wambui are neither twins, nor 2 week old babies as was expressed by everyone who came to see them at our orphanage. Their story begins in 15^th August when the Area Assistant Chief brought them to the orphanage, just to borrow food. On making enquiries, we learnt that Bernard is 3 ½ years old, although he looks smaller than his sister Anne – who is 2 years old. They were silent throughout and looked sickly and evidently malnourished. We decided to admit them in order to look after them.

The following day we took them to AIC Kijabe Mission Hospital, where they were attended to. Bernard weighed 4.6 kgs, Anne weighed 5.6 kgs. They were given lots of medicine and their 1^st immunizations, since they had never been to a hospital before.

Tabitha is mentally retarded, although she talks a little. Shadrack is deaf and dumb.

They live in a small mud hut in Escarpment, about 5 km from our orphanage. The couple has 2 other children, Robert Thiongo 7yrs and Samuel Kinyanjui 5yrs.

Tabitha is pregnant with a 5^th child. When we visited their home there was absolutely no food, nothing for any meal inside the hut. We learnt that all their children have never been to any hospital as it would be contrary to the couple’s religious beliefs. Neither have the kids been to school.

Bernard and Anne are getting on well, although they have difficulties in feeding – throwing up after almost every meal.

All the kids in the orphanage love them and are all excited. We have employed a lady specifically to take care of them. I am happy to report that they are smiling and slowly brightening up, as the love that surrounds them is too strong. We have also enlisted the remaining two boys to be joining the other orphans every Saturday for food.

Why am I sharing this? It is because you are my colleagues in the ministry; in alleviating the plight of children – who are mostly the victims in such circumstances. We are partners for a good cause. Let us continue to pray for each other, the very reason why we feel strong.

Fifteen years ago David Wilfred Mwanaka was working as a journalist in Zimbabwe. That was his dream job. His brother Patrick was in the UK, so David thought he could follow him and continue working as a journalist in the UK. It was not long after arriving in the UK that David realised his dream job did not migrate with him to the UK.

His first job in the UK had something to do with newspapers though. He worked as a paperboy, distributing free newspapers and leaflets all over London. From there he worked in factories, worked as a chef, traffic warden and in a bank. Like most migrants from Africa he had to do all sorts of odd job in order to earn a living. At some point he enrolled on a journalism course hopping it would enhance his chances of getting a job in the media but nothing changed. David says he was so frustrated. Nothing seemed to be going his way. He claims his Christian faith helped him through the difficult times. Apart from leaving his dream job in Zimbabwe, David also discovered he had left behind something he grew up eating and was not available in the UK. That was white maize, mahindi ya white on the cob.

“Instead of wishing someone to grow the crop and I buy it from them, I thought why not carry out trials of growing the crop and grow it myself,” he says. Though he was discouraged by agriculture expects from growing the tropical crop, David did not give up. After six years of trials, David was confident he could start growing his white maize commercially. Now David is in his fourth year of growing white maize commercially in the UK. His farming business is based in Enfield, North London. He is also one of the only known two black farmers in the UK. Ironically both share the same name Wilfred. The other farmer is a pig farmer in Devon. David says he does not miss being a journalist anymore. Instead of him looking for someone to interview, journalist from many organisation are looking for him for interviews. He is receiving interviews for his project from news organisations as far apart as the BBC and al Jazeera TV. He recalls in one week alone in July this year, he had four interviews and yet when he was working as a journalist he never interviewed four people in a week.

In his fourth year into business, he has expanded from the ten acres he started with to more than fifty. His expansion is in line with demand. When he started his product was new and most people did not know it was locally available. The first year most of his crop dried in the fields. Sales were very low. Second year it was a lot better and last year he almost sold all his produce. This year he has introduced a delivery service. He will be delivering his produce to most cities of the UK. He hopes to sell all his produce for the first time even after increasing his acreage. Besides fresh white maize for corn on the cob, his products include sweet potatoes, pumpkins, pumpkin leaves, and a few other exotic vegetables. His selling season is starting end of August to end of October.

Professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o at the addressing the guests during the book launching	Professor Ngugi dressing was a talk to many at the function
A large number of guests attended the launching	The cover of the book
Kenya's High Commissioner HE Joseph Muchemi (right) with Prof. Ngugi	Professor Nguri introducing the publisher of his book to the High Commissioner
Professor Ngugi introducing Dr. Githiora to the High Commissioner	Topi Lyambila interviewing Njeri wa Ngugi

Professor Ngugi signing the book for the High Commissioner as Dr. Githiora listens	"It is nice having you around High Commissioner - if it is Moi's era it could be a different story" Professor Ngugi seems to be telling the Commissioner
The High Commissioner with Njeri wa Ngugi	Professor Ngugi signing the book for Charles Kiruthi - Mr. Seed's brother a third-year student at Luton University - Charles took all the photos
Guests queuing in for professor Ngugi's signature at the function	Professor Ngugi and his family at the function
From Professor Ngugi's village is a Kenyan living in Manchester Mr. Mwangi wa Njau who came all the way for the function - He seen waiting patiently for the signature	A close shot of Professor Ngugi at the function