2/6/2021 Kenya (International Christian Concern)- From Jan. 20 to Jan. 24, arsonists in western Kenya destroyed a total of five churches and threw feces on the remains.
According to Morning Star News, the buildings were located in Kisii County and included St. Monica Church, a Worldwide Church with a Congregation of 100, a Seventh-day Adventist church, a 250-member Pentecostal Church, and a Legio Maria independent church.
“Apart from setting the churches ablaze, the arsonists also committed the heinous acts of scooping human feces onto the buildings to discourage the faithful from attending their ruined churches,” a source told the Morning Star News.
Total damages to the churches are estimated to reach in the millions of Kenyan shillings, with costs needing to cover both structural repairs and damages to church items.
The Church and Clergy Association of Kenya released a press statement demanding that investigating authorities find and prosecute those responsible. Church leaders also appealed for an increase in area security. A pastor of one of the affected churches, withholding his name for security reasons, stated: “Evil should not overcome the good that the gospel of Christ brings.”
While Kenya is a predominately Christian nation, there are several areas with a dense Muslim majority in which local governments do little to protect the rights of believers. Islamic extremism mostly occurs in the north and east of the country, and can extend as far as Nairobi in the south. We ask that you join us in praying for the continued perseverance of churches in Kenya as they face attacks, as well as for the strengthening of government leaders to stand against Islamic extremism.
