Amid escalating security concerns, the Peace Corps decided on Thursday to suspend its programs in Kenya for the second time in half a century and evacuate more than 50 volunteers working in education, health and community and economic development.
The action was taken after safety could no longer meet assessment standards given a recent spike in grenade and gunfire assaults across the country, as well as the attack by al-Shabaab militants on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall that left 67 people dead and many more injured in September 2013.
Shira Kramer, Peace Corps press director, said they hope to be able to resume work in Kenya soon, but right now “volunteers’ safety and security are the Peace Corps’ top priorities.”
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About the author
Kelli Rogers@kellierin
Kelli Rogers has worked as an Associate Editor and Southeast Asia Correspondent for Devex, with a particular focus on gender. Prior to that, she reported on social and environmental issues from Nairobi, Kenya. Kelli holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, and has reported from more than 20 countries.