Kenya Update...the Real Story

I'm sure you have heard of the crisis in Kenya right now. I've been very disheartened while reading about the displacement of over 200,000 people on the news as Kenya is close to my heart these days.

I got a chance to talk with Joseph for an extended time this weekend, and he gave me a good picture of what is happening behind the scenes in Kenya. I'll give you a brief picture of his perspective:

He is very thankful that Odinga lost the election to Kibaki. Odinga has been seeking after power relentlessly since leaving President Kibaki's cabinet 5 years ago. Odinga is ruthless in his quest for power, and it would not have been good for the country if he became the President. He is a leader similar to Hussein. Over the past five years, he has attempted to unite tribes within Kenya based on the promise that he would redistrubute land and resources when he became President. He villanizes the President's tribe for hoarding power and wealth to itself and away from the poor. He was able to unite a number of tribes together with the promise of redistribution of wealth.

This is political dynamite in a culture where over 50% of people are unemployed, AIDS has killed 1 in 4 adults, and extreme poverty is prevalent.

What is happening right now with the displacement of people from their land is a result of Odinga's promise to redistrubute land and resources. If Odinga had become President, the same thing would have happened, except it would have been worse because the government would not have stopped it. Currently, the government is working to bring about order and to stop the violence that Odinga would have permitted.

I've heard it said that the biggest threat in the world right now is not terroism, but poverty. Poverty over a long enough time leads to acts of desperation and retaliation.

Since the removal of colonialism, Kenya has faced many challenges, and over the past five years, Kibaki has made better strides than any leader in Kenya's independence in moving them forward. Much more is needed to bring about systemic change in their society.

I'm thankful that I have friends there that are working to bring peace and to be a light in a difficult place.

My prayers are with you CMF, Pastor David, Joseph, and the Africa Hope Center. Pray for this area of the world. For the leadership. For the Africa Hope Center. For missionaries and church leaders there.