Last week we watched with grief and grave concern as violence rocked the nation of Kenya. When the incumbent president was declared to be the winner of December elections, protesters took out their frustration on members of his tribe—the Kikuyu—and anyone else thought to be in league with him. As one of my Kenyan co-workers put it, “the tribal dragon raised its head.”
In scenes that brought to mind still fresh images from the Rwandan genocide, crowds marched with sticks and machetes and peaceful streets became gauntlets of fear. Shopping stalls, petrol stations, and trucks were ablaze on the streets of Nairobi. In Eldoret, attackers burned a church where families had sought shelter, killing at least fifty people inside. Things have quieted this week, but throughout the country as many as half a million people remain displaced from their homes.
“Never have we imagined that this could happen in Kenya.” Kenyans themselves have been shocked by the country’s rapid slide to the brink of genocide.
May they now be surprised by grace.
I received the following report from another Kenyan co-worker:
Yesterday my husband and I attended a prayer meeting at All Saints Cathedral that had been convened by the National Alliance of Churches. This was a united prayer to bring repentance to the Lord. The Church is suffering a credibility gap as it has been much divided. The lines dividing the people are the same ones dividing the Church. Thus this prayer meeting was for Church leaders to evaluate themselves and repent before the Lord and their fellow leaders. It was a very moving service; there were tears all over. The Media was politely asked to leave so that the leaders could lay themselves bear before the Lord and each other. A Kikuyu Bishop stood up to represent his tribe and invited a Luo Bishop and repented for the sins his tribe had committed against the Luos. This went on for sometime as Church leaders from different tribes repeated this.Major political leaders were present at the service as well, remaining silent except to participate in the prayers of repentance.
Caravans of relief supplies have already begun rolling down Kenyan highways. More are being readied. Life-giving words of reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace-building will quickly follow.
By the grace of God, may they step back from the brink.
Bob
