Kenyan woman #1

Overall, Ongata Rongai and its environs is quite peaceful. However, one teacher's parents who live near Masai land had their home burnt down and her elderly parents were both badly beaten and molested. The police came just in time and they rushed them to hospital where they are recovering but badly shaken.

Currently as you may have watched on the international press Kenya is in chaos. However some places are more affected than others.

Our greater concern is the country at large where there are clashes and killings. Please pray with us that the protagonists in the unfolding political impasse will agree to talk and that their followers will heed their call for cessation of hostilities. For a greater understanding the crises we are facing is as follows:

There are tens of thousands of displaced people in the nation and untold others trying to flee. Fuel and food supplies are lacking in different parts of the country which is creating much havoc and fear.

The three main issues that face the nation at this time are:

• The political power struggle between the two primary parties which is fostering great instability in the government and tension in the masses. There are definite signs of corruption in the ballot counting of the recent election and the two political opponents are haggling over matters of power. Thus, they are not paying attention to the needs of the nation.

• The social/humanitarian needs of the populous are not being responded to by the government. Consequently, there have been in meetings between leaders of different relief and development organizations such as Red Cross, World Vision, Food for the Hungry, and World Concern to assess the needs and craft a plan to respond to the basic cares of the internally displaced people. They are securing food stuffs and establishing safe places for the people. They begin their relief response this morning.

• There are meetings going on between certain credible leaders and leaders of different churches and denominations. The leaders have become acutely aware that the churches are not reconciled and have harbored tribal and ethnic biases. If the churches are to be agents of peace and reconciliation for the society, they must be united functionally across denominational and ethnic differences.

I hope that this gives you a clearer picture and helps you know how to pray.

Kenya has seen worse times in the past, and each time Jehovah God has intervened. We know that he will come through for us this time round. However, join us in interceding for our beloved country, Kenya