Kenyan Post-Presidential Election Violence
Happy New Year, 2008!
You may or may not be aware of the recent out-break of post-election violent demonstrations in the East African nation of Kenya that have left nearly 300 people dead. As a ministry, we work with many churches in the East African nation and are concerned at the recent developments. Due to an extremely close race between the incumbent president and the challenger, the outcome lacked a clear winner although the electoral commission of Kenya declared the incumbent the winner amidst claims of poll fixing. This is part of the complex scenario that has led to violent demonstrations across the country contrary to reports by some sections of the media that have put a tribal spin on a more complex scenario (see Q&A: Kenya poll violence). On Tuesday this week, 200 people mostly women and children running away from the violence and perceived to have supported the incumbent in an opposition stronghold, were haled up at an Assembly of God church near the city of Eldoret when an angry gang set the building on fire. 30 people were burned to death in the incident that left many ordinary Kenyans shocked.
Kenya has been an extremely stable nation since independence with a functional democratic system and a burgeoning economy, one of the most developed in Africa. It is also a strong alie of the United States on the war on terror. It is a regional economic and political powerhouse with neighboring countries relying on it for manufactured goods and services. It hosts many international organizations (including missionary ones) operating in Africa including the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) world headquarters. It has been the international staging ground for peace mediation in the regional conflicts in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia and Ethiopia and has long been held as a model of a successful African democracy. The Kenyan Churches have in the recent years become increasingly influential in the region many engaging in missionary enterprises around the world. The current violent demonstrations have undermined that image of stability and peace.
I have been in touch with my family who live in different parts of the country and also with some national Christian leaders since the violence broke out over the weekend when results were announced. A lot of people in some pockets across the country, estimated to be as many as 100,000, have been displaced fearing further violence. My family is safe although some of my family members are hosting several “refugees” in their homes (many of my siblings are church leaders and pastors and people naturally go to their homes hoping for safety). A sister-in-law of mine who was here in Minnesota visiting with me over Christmas and new-years’ has several families fleeing the violence camped at her house in the town of Bungoma in Western Kenya. Although the situation seems to be calming down as the police contain the rioters in the capital Nairobi and with both the U.S. government, the British Government and the United Nations swiftly moving to condemn the violence and to help cool down the tensions, a lot still hangs precariously in the balance. Christian leaders are encouraging dialogue to resolve the disputed election results and help reconcile the two sides. At this stage, it will be impossible for the incumbent to govern the nation without consensus as the opposition has a clear majority in parliament. Here are some ways that you can pray for the situation:
1. Pray that the political leaders will agree to dialogue over the disputed presidential election results to spare the common people the mayhem. At present, there is confusion regarding the best way forward, even among the international community.
2. Pray for the Church leaders as they help defuse the tensions, heal the wounds and restore trust among different groups. Kenya is 80% Christian with many people respecting the voice of the church. But like the United States, there is separation of Church and State and if political leaders ignore spiritual leaders, there is little more that can be done. Many church leaders, like my brother, are faced with challenging situations as they try to reach out and assist those who are displaced by violence while working with those in authority to encourage dialogue.
3. Pray that the potential humanitarian and economic crisis will be contained and will not spread to the entire east and central African regions which are dependent on Kenyan industries for manufactured goods and for many services. In Uganda for instance, the country is shutting down due to shortages of gas which they import from Kenyan oil refineries.
4. Finally, pray that democratic institutions for good governance will survive the current assault. As a ministry, recognizing that people’s well-being is integral to the gospel of peace that Christ has come to proclaim to all, we have invested heavily in the region in recent times as we convened conferences on leadership and good governance. Pray that satanic impulses will be contained and that the message of Jesus Christ of love for one’s enemy will prevail.
Thank you for caring for the poor of the world.
P.S. To learn more about SWIM or to financially support our global ministry efforts including those in Kenya, visit www.swimmin.org You can donate to our efforts by following this link
