Kenya Needs Our Prayer Today

The emails have come to my computer screen with a powerful emphasis. These are my friends asking for prayer for some potentially dangerous situations where they live.

Two ladies, Marg and Janice, live in Nairobi, Kenya. Marilyn lives in Mombasa. They have asked for prayer for calm to prevail over the country following the election in their country. Actually they have appealed for prayer for the election months ago – now it is post election and the situations have worsened around them.

In The Toronto Star, today’s article entitled “Vote Delay Ignites Kenya” – there is a vivid description of places that I have walked and personally encountered this past April. The violence has broken out in and near the Kibera, the biggest slum in Nairobi, if not the world. There are between 700,000 to 925,000 people living in this slum.

What the western world doesn’t know is that there are deep tribal hatreds that are stirred up with this election. The Kikuyu is the countries largest ethnic group – Kenya’s present President Mwai Kibaki, comes from this tribe. The opposition leader, Raila Odinga, comes from the second largest ethnic group, the Luos.

The Kibera Slum is the centre of a great deal of Mr. Odinga’s support. Mr. Odinga is a 62 year old multi millionaire that has promised to do something for the poor. No wonder the Luos, that make up Kibera, want to support him.

But from reports that I read there are Kikuyu that live in another slum not far away across the railway tracks that are enraged that their tribal leader, President Mwai Kibaki, might be ousted.
Something that most of us do not know is that you cannot take photographs of the President’s estate. The man that holds this position is almost God like from what you can surmise when you are there.

Coming from Canada, we hardly look at our politicians this way. They are ordinary men that clamber for top spots. In our country they are almost a joke… at least lots of jokes are told about them. They are only talked about here if they scream a lot or get into trouble morally.

In Kenya it is very different. Politics is survival at every level.

Now add to that – our churches. Our churches have established works in every tribal area. They are not selective on who they evangelize. The folk of these churches have deep appreciation for each other. And yet… I imagine that if push comes to shove you will see the old tribal ways spring to life when decisions are made even within the Christian bodies. We see that in Canada – why would Kenya be any different?

So my appeal today is for prayer this week as tempers flare. Young men are ready to die for this election cause and that their man might be elected.

We have many precious people there from Canada and other nations that are serving among both the Kikuyu and Luos. Lift them in prayer today… and BEGIN RIGHT NOW!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources
http://www.thestar.com/article/289610
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7051a904-2ec2-479f-9879-85d068abd74a&k=55363
http://allafrica.com/stories/200712300001.html