Dark side of Africa

'I was raped,' B.C. missionary in Kenya says

Five men, two women arrested for brutal attack on Canadian couple

Linda Nguyen, Canwest News Service

Published: Friday, July 11, 2008

A Canadian missionary working in Kenya said Friday she was raped by three men while her husband was attacked outside, according to media reports.

"I've got a broken jaw. My husband has a broken jaw. I have 35 stitches on my face," Eloise Bergen, 66, told CTV News today. "I was raped. It was not nice."

Seven people - five men and two women - have been arrested for the brutal attack Wednesday on the Vernon, B.C., couple. Two of the suspects were night security guards who were supposed to be protecting the pair.

Eloise Bergen, 66, and her husband Canadian John Bergen, 70, both on missionary work in Kenya, are recovering in a hospital after a brutal home invasion on Tuesday.

 

All stolen property has been recovered.

Eloise and John Bergen were in Kenya working as missionaries for Hope for the Nations, a non-profit society based in Kelowna, B.C.

They had recently moved from the organization's compound to their own house about 10 kilometres away because they had wanted to be nearer to the widows and orphans in the city of Kitale, helping people who have fled a political crisis.

According to Ralph Bromley, head of the Hope for the Nations charity, the assailants struck John's skull, jaw, arm, knee and leg with their clubs. He was also severely cut with machetes. A broken knee and leg will require extensive surgery.

Eloise was tied up, assaulted, and pinned under a pile of furniture.

Eloise said it took her 45 minutes to cut herself free and save her husband, 70, after the thugs stormed their Kenyan home.

The two are now recovering in a hospital in Nairobi.

Eloise said that she remained calm during the ordeal because God was on her side.

"I was conscious of an overwhelming fear," she told CTV. "But I knew I must do what they tell me to do. I have to remain calm."

She said the culprits were very nervous during the whole ordeal.

"They were very nervous and jumpy and afraid that somebody might find me during this. They had the machete at my throat almost all the time," Eloise said.

When asked what the motive was behind this attack, she replied: "I don't know the reason. It was not reasonable."

Bromley said Friday that he knows the couple wouldn't let an attack like this deter them from their volunteer work and would most likely stay in Kenya after their recovery.

The couple have two sons and two daughters.

Bromley said the Bergens' son, Josh, 20, and a nephew will arrive in Nairobi by Saturday.

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