Mounting calamities an indication that Kenyans need to pray

That Kenya is bewildered is not news. The persistent terror attacks claiming lives almost on a weekly basis; accidents taking their toll on our roads; and the bizarre incidences such as the lethal brews sold to innocent Kenyans, and the recently discovered mass grave with several bodies, are enough to hypnotise anyone. Add to that the high cost of living; the fights and squabbles among our leaders; and the recent exodus of tourists at high peak season; and you have a perfect recipe for despondency. Where lies the solution?

There is no doubt that the various arms of government are doing all that is in their ability to ensure that the nation gets back to sobriety. Though some leaders seem to be at sea, at least there is some sense of seriousness in some quarters.

The truth though is that the sum of it all is not getting us out of the turbulence that has engulfed this nation. It seems like we are trying to pull ourselves up by our boot straps — it has never worked. My verdict — Kenya needs to pray.

As many cynics have often rightly observed, prayer is a cry of desperation. It is a humbling acknowledgment that one has reached his or her wit’s end. Yet, it is this admission of helplessness and hopelessness that evokes the intervention of the Divine. Unfortunately, this is what keeps many from praying.

But truth be told, unless and until we accept that we are in trouble, we cannot offer a genuine prayer — a true cry from our hearts to the heart of God. For it is only the desperately sick that run to the doctor. Truth be told, Kenya is sick…very sick, and needs a doctor urgently! We can choose to do what we Kenyans have become experts at: talk, comment, analyse, and at times blame each other for causing the sickness. But meanwhile the patient is deteriorating and may soon die while we are stuck in the paralysis of analysis.

But does prayer work? That is an age old question that has taxed the minds of scholars and the unschooled alike, especially in these days of scientific enlightenment. Though the efficacy of prayer is one of those realities of life that seem to lie beyond empiricism, it nonetheless remains a stubborn fact.

At the first national prayer breakfast following his presidential inauguration, President Bill Clinton proudly declared how he helped to initiate the first Arkansas governor’s prayer breakfast, an event that became a “very important part of [my] life there”. At another such breakfast, President Bush declared, “Many in our country know the power of prayer. Prayer changes hearts. Prayer changes lives. And prayer makes us a more compassionate and giving people.” While some would readily agree with these sentiments, the veracity of these assertions remains debatable.

Back in 1984 when the Kenya was faced with a devastating and prolonged drought and famine, the then President Moi called the nation to a whole week of prayer.

This was to culminate in a national prayer day on the Sunday when all Kenyans were to specifically petition God to bring rain upon the land.

As some would remember, on that Sunday afternoon, out of nowhere the rains poured across the nation. So heavy was the rain that the President, who attended a church service in Nakuru, had his motorcade almost swamped by the raging floods as he drove home from the church service.

In 2003, soon after the NARC government came to power, the country faced a series of calamities including: an MP swept away by a flooded river; a plane accident in Busia involving some key leaders; a passenger train derailment claiming many lives; serious bus accidents; the sudden deaths of several key government leaders including the then Vice President Kijana Wamalwa; and the Kenya Airways crash in Cameroon.

The mood of the nation fell from ecstasy to bewilderment. It was at this point that President Kibaki called for a national day of prayer across the nation. In Nairobi, a most solemn assembly gathered at KICC grounds with the president and his team in attendance. Church leaders and government officials led the nation in earnest prayer and repentance before God. The calamities ceased!

When Uhuru and Ruto found themselves faced with the harsh reality of ICC, they did what every wise human being should do in such circumstances — they turned to God. They traversed the nation in prayer rallies and had many a cleric lay their hands upon them. Take it or leave it, God turned their calamity into a blessing, and against all odds became top leaders of this nation.

Unfortunately, our positivistic worldviews have created a bias against granting any empirical credence to prayer at all. The truth, however, is that Kenya needs to pray.

It is time President Kenyatta and DP Ruto traversed this nation once again, this time to rally Kenyans to cry for our beloved country. I believe the God of heaven will once again hear our cry and heal our land.

It is the only viable option.