At least 15 killed on Kenyan election day

Mount Kenya (Mehmet Karatay)

There is a presidential election in Kenya today and there has already been fatal violence:

Mon Mar 4, 2013 9:00am EST

(Reuters) – At least 15 people were killed in attacks by machete-wielding gangs on Monday as Kenyans lined up to vote in a presidential election they hope will rebuild the nation’s image after a disputed 2007 poll unleashed weeks of tribal bloodshed…

There were two separate attacks which senior police officers blamed on a separatist movement – which, if confirmed, would suggest different motives to those that caused the post-2007 vote ethnic killings and could limit their impact…

As in 2007, the race has come down to a high-stakes duel between two candidates, this time between Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the loser in 2007 to outgoing President Mwai Kibaki. Both contenders will depend heavily on votes from tribal loyalists.

The United States and Western donors are worried about the stability of a nation that is an ally in the fight against militant Islam in the region but are also fretting what to do if the victor is Kenyatta, who faces charges by the International Criminal Court of orchestrating violence five years ago. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/04/us-kenya-elections-idUSBRE9220H920130304

Violence and killing is not what those in Kenya need. The Continuing Church of God has many, many supporters in Kenya. In the latest Continuing Church of God Letter to the Brethren was the following prayer request:

Please pray for the Kenya Church as we face Kenya General Elections on Monday March 4th 2013. As you may know, African people usually vote along lines and none of the candidates is ready to concede the defeat,this always create ethnic clashes as happened here in 2007/2008. We suffered and the Church was not exempted. I cannot narrate it here.Our prayer is that this history should not repeat itself. Even as I write some are on the way back to rural homes from urban areas. The government has started deploying as many police as possible mostly in volatile areas to deal with the situation should such a thing erupt again.

Christians are to pray for one another (James 5:16).

Following biblical admonitions, historically those in the Church of God pray for leaders and that God’s will would be done in matters such as elections. And the above prayer request is consistent with that.

Furthermore, notice what the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Please pray that God will protect His people in Kenya and that as the result of this election, they will be able to lead “a quiet and peaceable life.”

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.