SUMMERTIME FOR KENYA

  

I remember sometime back a certain post/hash tag was doing rounds on social media platforms and it went something like HOW TO SPOT A KENYAN. There were all sorts of comical phrases that described some peculiar habits that we Kenyans are known for.

E.g. :

• Those living abroad carry authentic Kenyan foodstuffs in their luggage like tea from Kericho, avocados, mangoes, Royco mix even Farmer’s Choice sausage Lol ….  And once they return to Kenya, something interesting happens to their accents … Y’all know what am talking about.
• A Kenyan giving a speech will invariably begin with ‘Mine are just a few small remarks.’ Three hours later, he will end with ‘Na kwa hayo machache tunasema…’ Oblivious of the fact that his entire audience is either (a) fast asleep or (b) tweeting.
• Apologizing to someone then adding a ‘but’ to the statement…
• If an individual stands still at a point and stares for about 10 minutes, soon enough a huge crowd gathers behind them, and if you randomly ask, ’what’s going on?’ Someone will quickly answer “ata Mimi sijui” (I don’t know either) and you’re left wondering why they chose to stand there in the first place yet they have no idea what’s going on.
•  Some folks call you at 2 Am to ask ‘umelala’ or they flash you and when you call back they explain they just wanted to ‘say hi’ …smh

I know you’ve come across these and many more rib-tickling descriptions and by no means am I trying to be a comedian. Though I think I can make people laugh :-D (The likes of Saderah, Cheriro, Faith, Jimmy, Moses, Mummy, Zam, Laura, Becky, Neema, Tume … don’t you dare deny this.)

But there’s this one that has stuck with us for way too long…Unlike the rest, it’s not funny.

• When a misfortune happens, that’s when we really get onto our knees, pray the hardest, fast more and basically get serious about seeking God and dedicating our nation to Him… But like a mother who forgets the pangs of labor during her very first or previous childbirth and goes seeking to add one more member to her cradle… In the same way, we Kenyans forget the pangs of the bizarre happenings. Sooner than we know it, we are back to our comfort zones, we rarely fast or even pray for our nation…. Until, another misfortune strikes!!!

These misfortunes have sort of become a wake-up call for us which should never be the case. Although I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and that God can use all situations, both good and bad, for His glory… I also believe that when we pray in ‘advance’ God will surely protect us from the dangers ahead. Because through prayer He will help us acknowledge what needs to be done and how so as we’ll be at peace and be able to conquer the obstacles ahead.

Already, so much is going on: People are dying of hunger, terrorist attacks are on the rise, billions of money are said to be ‘disappearing’ every single day, politicians are busy talking each other down, road carnages and the number of lives lost as a result ,are constantly increasing… The bitter roots of corruption seem to be digging deeper into the core of our ethics as a nation… Doctors and lecturers are on strike, demanding for their dues. Sickly patients are left to battle it out on their own; students (I included) are stranded... I mean it’s just chaotic. The doctors and lecturers are just a few among many other civil servants whose dedication to serve their nation is being taken for granted. That explains why they are on the streets protesting for what rightfully belongs to them.

I am convinced that the Kenyan government is capable of catering for the salaries of all civil servants, without going into debts. The major problem is that, these resources are channeled to benefit those who never worked for them. Right now as we speak, it’s speculated that the 2017/2018 budget will escalate to 2.62 trillion from 2.48 trillion. Talk of pressure on the taxpayers!!  While it’s evident that the government can only give you something that they’ve taken from somebody else, I strongly feel that this amount of money will take a toll on most if not all Kenyans.

And let’s not forget that we are approaching the general elections in August, a time when the next leaders of our beautiful country will come to power. Am tempted to think that most politicians have a feeling that they will be voted out come August and so they are amassing sacks of money to settle any debts they may have and be left with some more to live on. At this point no one knows who the next president, governors, senators, MCAs, MPs et al will be.  

It would be a sad story if all we did is just sit, watch and wait for that period without interceding for our nation, the situations were facing or the things we need to see changed. I’m double sure that no one would ever want a repeat of what happened during the 2007/2008 PEV. And let no one lie to you that you’ll be at peace in the face on political instability. Fact is you’ll be affected in one way or the other.

Though time may seem like it’s far much gone, if we choose to utilize the few months left, I know it will make a huuge difference.  We’ve complained enough, gave up on Kenya too many times… It’s time for us to do something different. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we ignore the mess around us, am only urging us to choose to look beyond the mess and focus on shaping our nation. Let’s all be the change that we want to see, after all, it starts with you and me. This is our Summer-Time, especially the church in Kenya.

During summertime, some animal and bird species, gather and store up food that will sustain them during winter. These creatures have a minute cognitive capacity compared to us (human beings) yet they are able to tell the seasons and do that which is required. If for some reason they don’t store up enough, they are likely to run out at some point and the ‘wise’ will go out in search of food despite the cold in the winter while the ‘foolish’ will stay back, starve and succumb to the hunger pangs.

In the same way, this is our time as Christians to love on our nation, speak positively about it, stand firmly for that which we believe in, condemn the injustices that maybe going on around us, preach peace, do away with ethnicity/tribalism and pray for Kenya. You may be wondering…What if am not gifted in preaching but I can write poems, articles, I can draw, I can sing? …By all means, go ahead and use that gift which the Almighty has placed in you. God is interested in what you have, not what you don’t have! In His kingdom no one is a bystander, your input counts in the progress and shaping of this nation, no matter how little you may perceive it to be. Step out in faith, do that which you believe will bring a change to our country. You see, Peter walked on water when he realized that it was Jesus whom they saw walking on water…but he is the only one who left the boat, the rest didn’t. This is a challenge for us to leave our comfort zones and what we are familiar to.  May we not drift into spiritual slumber and wait to be awakened by any kind of misfortune that befalls our country. Though prayer is important we have to exercise our right to vote when time comes, hopefully we’ve all registered as voters. By not voting we keep corrupt leaders in our government which worsens the present situation.

God asks us to keep humbling ourselves before Him and standing in the gap for our country as it opens doors for Him to:

    (a) Hear our prayers,                    

    (b) Forgive our sins,                    

    (c) Heal our land.   2Chronicles7:14

May we act wisely and gather while it’s still summertime.           

Proverbs 10:5 – he who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son…

The healing we so desperately desire for Kenya rests in our hands. And we believe it is well with us.

Kenya is waiting on our obedience to God.