Population:
53.7 million
Evangelical population:
47.6%
People groups:
110
Unreached people groups:
32
Kenya
Hard-hit by both drought and flooding, and then locust swarms, Kenya is an economic leader in Africa, and yet half of its population lives below the poverty level. Ailments associated with poverty such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition remain common threats, killing many children. Corruption in government is responsible for an inability to address these concerns.
Kenya has a diverse population of many ethnic groups. The largest native ethnic groups are the Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo and Kamba. The northeastern border area with Somalia is inhabited by many ethnic Somalis, and Muslim extremists from Somali rebel group Al Shabaab or their sympathizers have launched many guerrilla attacks on migrant workers from the interior and other Christians.
English and Swahili are the two official languages, with many rural communities speaking their native ethnic languages. At least 69 languages are spoken in Kenya.
While 78 percent of the population identifies as Christian, many belong to nominal denominations, while others blend animistic tribal religions into their church practice. Islam, practiced by 10.9 percent of the population, is the country’s second-largest religion, with most Muslims living in either coastal areas or along the border with Somalia.
Indigenous missionaries are reaching more than 30 unreached people groups. They need assistance for training and support, Bibles, discipleship materials, and bicycles and motorbikes. Other ministry tools such as sound systems and projectors for gospel films are needed, along with simple structures for churches that meet outside.
To combat Kenya’s widespread poverty, ministries are undertaking income-generating projects to support their workers and the communities they are serving. One ministry seeks funding to supply goats so that 40 families can achieve economic stability. Another ministry plans to provide cows to 10 pastors. Local missionaries seek to provide poultry projects to 10 widows and sewing machines for 10 others who complete sewing classes. Local missionaries also seek assistance to provide a brick-making machine to youths who are helping to support their families by selling hand-made bricks. Workers are also providing food, clothing, medicine and education to the children of a community they hope to reach for Christ.
Missionaries and the people they’re serving have been devastated by natural disasters like locust swarms and drought, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Hunger is widespread, and people must migrate or starve. Local workers are providing relief aid to the poor and helping orphans and other needy people with basic necessities and schooling.
Sources: Joshua Project, Wikipedia
How to Pray for Kenya
- Pray for churches to be unified, biblically grounded and sources of light and warmth in their communities, and that they will be kept safe from hostile animists or Islamic extremists.
- Pray that poor children will be become educated or learn trades so that they can obtain work that will lift their families out of poverty.
- Pray that local missionaries and those they are serving will survive COVID-19, drought, flooding and locust swarms and glorify God with their lives.
More stories from Kenya
Persecutor of Church in Kenya Accepts Christ
A village chief in Kenya who had jailed Christians for years never heeded their message until he attended a funeral – officiated by a native worker he had often arrested. A member of the Teso tribe, the chief had arrested the pastor and other native Christian workers for 10 years for steering people away from tribal religious customs, the leader of the local ministry said. Addressing mourners at the funeral, the pastor spoke not only of the hope of eternity with Christ but the need of salvation from corruption, death and God’s wrath.
Witchdoctors Keep People Sick in Kenya
The spiritual battles fought in outlying areas of Kenya are literally matters of life and death. In many areas, witchdoctors tell sick villagers that medical treatment would be futile against the curses placed on them, the leader of a native ministry said. “During our outreaches, we meet people who are desperate and helpless because of life’s challenges – many are bound by sicknesses and demonic spirits,” the leader said. “Some people opt not to seek medical help because they believe they are bewitched due to the falsehoods they are told. This is causing many people to die.”
Help Provide Gospel Transformation in Kenya
People who have never seen a movie walk miles through the jungle at night to see the Jesus Film in their own language. Local Christian workers providing the film saw conversions at every screening.
Help Bring The Salvation Message in Kenya
Meeting many people who are ill and oppressed by unclean spirits, native Christian workers offer to pray for them and see God manifest His power. One worker prayed for a woman who had suffered with an illness for 15 years, and the Lord delivered her.
Help Form Strong Christians in Kenya
Local missionaries were stunned by the transformation they saw in a shy 15-year-old girl after she accepted Christ. As they discipled her, she developed courage in Christ to serve in her slum community and proclaim the Lord’s salvation, including helping to turn a boy away from the drugs he was starting to take and leading him to Christ.
Prayer Helps Transform a Killer and a Town in Kenya
A series of murders of children and young women prompted a three-day prayer event in a town in western Kenya. Church members and community leaders were praying for safety when a young man burst in and confessed to raping and killing six young women. The local missionaries and other leaders prayed for deliverance and salvation as the man’s anguished cries drew more people to the meeting tent – including some bent on lynching him and burning his body.