Continue to pray for Kenya

The Kenyan election that took place the 8th of August and was then overturned by the supreme court was held again on this past Thursday the 26th October.   This time the controversy over the election is even greater than the first time.  Two weeks before the election the challenger, Raila Odinga, withdrew himself from the election stating that the supreme court mandated changes to the election process had not been done and the election was going to be nothing more than a sham.  Therefore, he would not participate in an election with a predetermined outcome. 

The electoral commission would not allow him to withdrawal his name, so he in turn asked his supporters to not vote.  On election day there was trouble in much of the opposition areas and the tension all over the country was high.  There are unconfirmed reports of 70 people killed during the election. The chaos was so great in some areas that four whole counties where not able to vote at all.  The votes are still being counted but it seems that most of the opposition supporters followed the dictate of their leaders and did not vote.  The president's vote total seems to be much lower than the first election with reports of only 35 percent voter turnout.

On the eve of the election, Raila Odinga called a press conference for a major announcement telling the country that he was disbanding his political party NASA and was transforming them into the National Resistance Movement NRM.  They would from that day forward be a resistant movement that would resist everything the government does.  Basically, the desire is to make the country ungovernable and force another election with the changes he desires.

Elections in Kenya have always been tribal affairs and unfortunately this election has caused the tribal tension to rise to unprecedented levels.  The rhetoric on both sides are abominable.  People who should know better are saying things and posting things on social media that are divisive and ugly.  I have never seen a time in Kenya that the tribal divisions are as great as they are today, and many Kenyans have told me that the hatred being displayed between certain people groups has reached a level never seen before. 

The economy has shut down for many, the Kenyan people are hurting, yet some continue following their leaders like sheep to the slaughter. It's time that Kenya had some leaders that would put the whole nations interest ahead of their own interest. Unfortunately, the current leaders don't seem to understand that important part of leadership.

Despite the current situation there are those who are standing for what is right.  There are preachers and churches that are going against the tide and consistently loving people and have not allowed themselves to be swayed by the politics of the day.  It is these preachers and churches that must continue to set the example and be a light that others can follow.

Continue to pray for the people of Kenya and especially the pastors and churches.  I am especially appreciative of Pastor Justus Oloo, co-pastor of the Grace Bible Baptist Church, who continues to set an example of pastoring a mixed tribal church and leading them to remain unified despite what others are doing around them. 

SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2017 PRAYER LETTER

KENYA ELECTION UPDATE

The Kenyan Presidential elections were held on the 8th of August and the voting process was conducted peaceably.  As the country awaited the results there were some obvious apprehension on the outcome, but overall it could not have gone much better.  After the counting of the ballots, the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner. Half the country broke out into celebration and the other half went into mourning.  There were some isolated riots of protest and a lot of tension as the country waited to see what the losing candidate, Raila Odinga, would do.  Would he accept the outcome or would he incite his followers?  He had begun indicating that he would not accept the outcome but was silent on what he was going to do.  Tension was rising and people were worried.  It forced us to cancel all of our Bible College sessions as people needed to stay near their homes in case the worse happened.

Surprisingly, to most people, Raila Odinga took his issues with the election to court and said he was willing to accept the verdict of the supreme court.  Most of Kenya believing the court would accept the results of the election were ready to get on with their day to day living.  On the 1st of September the Supreme Court of Kenya shocked the continent of Africa and for the first time ever in Africa, ruled that the election was nullified because it had not been conducted correctly according the  Kenyan constitution.  According to the ruling a new election has to be held within 45 days.  This new election is now scheduled to take place on the 26th of October.

The tension in Kenya has now risen tremendously because of these events.  In our twenty years living in Kenya I have not seen the tribal hatred and animosity as great as it is now.  I have read and heard things said that are very dangerous.  There are people on both sides of the political spectrum that have indicated that they will not be willing to accept defeat in this next election.  The president is furious at the supreme court and has used language against it that is very provocative. The challenger has indicated that he will not allow the election to go forward if reforms in the election process are not done first.  Obviously in the short amount of time before the election date this is close to impossible.

The Grace Bible Baptist Church has many different tribes represented in the membership that are on the opposite side of the political spectrum.  The church remains unified and continues holding special prayer meetings to help ensure the unity remains.  Please continue to be in prayer for the nation of Kenya as this election process goes forward.  The chances of trouble have greatly increased.