Posted: 06/17/2010 at 6:47pm | IP Logged

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Last Sunday 13 June, six people were killed and some 104 wounded when grenades were thrown into a massive Christian rally in Nairobi's Uhuru Park. The rally was organised by religious leaders who advocate that Christians vote 'NO' in the 4 August referendum on Kenya's new constitution. It included evangelism, prayer for the sick and addresses from several parliamentarians from the 'NO' camp. Whilst the rally officially concluded at 6 pm, many believers lingered and continued in worship and prayer. At around 6.45pm an explosion occurred at the left rear of the gathering. Assuming it was something harmless, Pastor James Ng'ang'a, who was leading prayers at the time, called on those present to gather closer to the platform. However, as bloodied victims of the explosion were being brought forward, a grenade lobbed in from the right exploded close to the main dais. This killed some, wounded many and caused a stampede that resulted in many more injuries.

No security had been provided for the event though church leaders had requested it. Despite the explosions, police did not attend from the nearest police station just 2km away until Bishop Margaret Wanjiru drove there after an hour and requested their assistance. In highly provocative statements Professor Peter Anyang Nyong'o, Co-convener of the 'YES' campaign Secretariat, and Hussein Khalid, head of Muslims For Human Rights, insinuated that the 'NO' campaign might have bombed itself to gain sympathy.

The draft constitution includes several divisive issues, one of which is the entrenchment of Kadhi (Islamic) courts. Kenyan Muslims (8 percent) have long pushed to have Kadhi courts defined in the Constitution with national rather than just local jurisdiction. This would give Khadi courts authority equal to the State's secular courts. Christians maintain that this would threaten Kenya's secularism and religious freedom.

On 24 May a three-judge bench declared the inclusion of Kadhi courts in the current Constitution ill egal and discriminatory, prompting church leaders to petition for a recall of parliament so amendments could be made. However, former Law Society of Kenya chairman, Ahmednassir Abdullahi, charged that the constitutional court had acted outside its jurisdiction, a claim supported by Kenya's Attorney-General Amos Wako. Wako has launched an appeal that he wants heard before the 4 August referendum. Tensions are running high.

Meanwhile the 'YES' campaign is busy wielding 'hate speech' laws against those who dare speak out against the dangers they believe are posed by the draft constitution. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is investigating complaints made against the Higher Education Minister William Ruto, who is spearheading the 'NO' campaign, and five other Members of Parliament. The NCIC wants them prosecuted for 'hate speech' since they opined that elements of the draft constitution could trigger bloodshed and evictions (as power is devolved from the centre to 47 self-governing ethnic counties) and 'r eligious warfare' (due to advancing Islamisation). The 'YES' campaign was greatly bolstered last week by the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden who publicly supported the 'YES' campaign, urging Kenyans to resist those who would use 'fear' as a 'tool' to perpetuate division. He also promised the Kenyan Government more American and foreign investment if the constitution were passed. No wonder the government is hungry for a quick, untroubled 'Yes'. In the midst of this, the Church stands as a prophetic voice of opposition. Polls taken on 4 June show the powerful, elitist-led, Muslim-backed 'YES' vote clearly in front. They will be furious if the constitution fails. It is a no-win situation for the Church.

(An expanded version of this RLPB is available on Religious Liberty Monitoring,  http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com.)

WE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:

• grant Kenya's Church leaders great wisdom, courage and unity as they seek what is best for their nation.
  
  
• use this trial to purify and sanctify his Church in Kenya, forging spiritual maturity and unity and a God-dependency that expresses itself in prayerfulness.
  
  
• use these difficult and darkening days to lead many Kenyans to Jesus Christ; may the Church not fear the times, knowing she will shine like a star, only brighter as darkness descends.

'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' (Isaiah 55:9 ESV.)

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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ISLAMIC COURTS ISSUE STIRS STRIFE IN KENYA

Kenyans will vote on a new constitution on 4 August. Several elements in the proposed constitution are, however, highly controversial and opposed by the Church which is advocating a 'NO' vote. One contentious issue is the promotion of Kadhi (Islamic) courts. The Church maintains that if Islamic courts are entrenched in the constitution and given national jurisdiction, then secularism, equity, tolerance and religious liberty will be diminished. Last Sunday 13 June grenades were thrown into a massive Christian prayer rally in Nairobi. Six people were killed and 104 injured. The 'YES' campaign is busy wielding 'hate speech' laws against 'NO' advocates who claim the new constitution could trigg er ethnic bloodshed and religious conflict. Please pray for the Church in Kenya.

Source: (ANS) www.assistnews.net

Posted: 06/17/2010 at 7:08pm | IP Logged

Email From A Kenyan Christian Lesder - PLEASE PRAY FOR KENYAN CHURCH

Dear Ron,
I write to call all Christians of good will to pray for all Bishops and other Church Leaders in Kenya and also pray for the country of Kenya during this very trying times in the history of our country, as we start to "SAY NO" to a proposed constitution giving Muslims undue advantage over other religions although Kenya is 80% Christians, also a constitution that disregard the lives of the unborn by allowing abortion.

SUNDAY 13TH JUNE two blasts ripped through a great churches meeting in Nairobi's Uhuru park killing 6 Christians and injured 150. The meetings was held to pray and rally against the evil and controversial laws in the proposed draft.
This is a sign of things to come because the enemy has taken some deep roots in our country. We still see the external force from Obama administration pressuring Kenyan to pass the new proposed constitution containing evil laws that the church is against.
Vice President of USA Joe BidenPresident Hussein Obama and promised Kenyans of great help and investments when they pass these new laws." (Vote ‘Yes’ or else... says Biden) was in Kenya recently, sent by

Loud explosions

The first loud explosion was heard from the far left hand corner of Uhuru Park and there was a stampede, with people running towards the dais.

Then there was  screams  heard from the direction of the blast and people could be seen carrying injured victims towards the dais. It became clear it was an explosion and people started shouting ‘bomb, bomb!’ as panic spread.

At the scene of the explosion saw many people lay on the ground, bleeding and groaning in pain. Others were being carried to the dais, we started calling out for help asking anyone with a vehicle to help injured people.

There was dust, confusion, screaming as all order broke down. Church leaders at the podium could be heard praying aloud while others called out for help. About 20 people looked badly hurt by the first blast.

Then, about ten minutes on, as chaos caused by the blast caused a commotion, a second one went off about 30 metres from the podium near where we were.l was aimed at the bishops and other church leaders.

"That was the one that killed and badly injured many people. It went off in the thick of the crowd who had surged to the podium. It was like a scene from hell. Dusk had set in and visibility was poor and dust raised by the blast and escaping crowd shrouded everything.

People were screaming, falling over each other and everyone tried to get away from the scene. Many were trampled on and left injured.

NAbout five minutes after the dust settled, over 150 people lay on the ground, some silent, others groaning. Many people returned and started helping

I was among the last people to leave the scene and we headed for the hospital to see the injured.

Kindly pray for the Church in Kenya

(Names removed for security reasons.)