The Politics of Division

I'm writing this for two reasons:

1. I am feeling indifferent

2. I feel that most of you are either as indifferent as I am, that you think you're not indifferent even though - to some level - I'm sure you are, or that you care so much about who lost or won this recent elections till you're now partisan to the divisions.

I'll explain. 

I don't know if I am right, because I don't have to be; but I just want to show us one thing: let God be true and let every other human being be a liar. So, on this one, I'm vouching for God. 

Romans 3:4 (ESV)  

By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

I once wrote here why God is always for God (I plead-pray that you read that one first for you to understand my point on this one.) And I still insist that God is currently not for any human agenda - governance, education, culture, nation, politics, media, entertainment, family, religion or economy - or whichever thing you call a mountain. God is for Himself. God is for the Church. God is for His own glory. Period. He is not here to satisfy and gratify our desires or to answer our prayers according to our own will or wishes. God is here to answer to Himself according to Himself in His own timeline, under His own rules and for His own glory. 

God (Jehovah) will work in ANY form of art, government, education system, culture, family, business, religion and media and somehow bring Himself glory. These things may be sacred or secular, but He will still do whatever He wants to do to give Himself glory. He is God. And He is unstoppable while at it. 

He can do it our way (in the manner we pray as His people) if it so pleases Him or in another way we don't know. But because He knows we love - so much - to receive glory for things we didn't do, He'd rather just do it His way. 

God knows we live to pride in our answered prayers, that's why He rarely answers them the way we would want Him to. He humbles the most prayerful of us by denying them things they have fasted for for days. He knows we love to exalt our righteous deeds above His mercies and grace, so He mostly overlooks our boasting when a "good thing" happens to us. He blesses both sinners and the righteous with the sun and the rain - and we can do nothing about it. He is God, and He is for Himself. 

He knows we always think that when "bad things" happen to us, we are either evil or are being punished for some sin, so He brought us His Holy Spirit to remind us of our righteousness in Christ. To remind us that IT IS FINISHED and we have no debt to pay whatsoever. In Him, all things happen for our good. 

He knows how warped our definitions of "good" and "bad" are. He knows we don't even notice the difference most of the time. He knows we are dumb. As dumb as stones. Or even dumber... because stones can praise. 

He knows we love to put our hope in human beings - even presidents and their regimes - even though He has already cursed everyone who does so (Jeremiah 17:5). He knows we know so little of the future, that's why He gives us hope when we are weary. He knows. He is God. He knows. He knows these things. 

He knows when we place too much trust in humans and their plans - no wonder we are so divided on which human will save us and our sickly Kenyan economy - forgetting that He is the source of all things. He knows. And by knowing all things the way He does, no one can claim to outwit Him or to be His favorite.

So if you ever think that any human president or political party can completely save this nation, you're very wrong and you're no longer on God's side. You're either alone or you are on that president's / party's side. You are as well in for a very big shock: you'll both fall. After three or five or seven or ten or fifteen years, you'll fall. Then after that, you'll have to transfer your hope to another human being. Who'll as well fall...

Because humans and human systems rise and fall all the time. 

But if you believe that God can use anyone to do His bidding in this land for His glory, you're joining His army of a people of faith - people who move mountains. A people who believe that they'll make it. A people who prosper. A people who'll make this Kenya a nation after God's own heart. 

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You see, our elections this year (2022) are filled with more religious drama than any other election I've witnessed in my current short life on earth. This is because; 

1. there has been so-called prophesies from God favouring or refuting both sides of the political divide - as if God is divided in His doings amongst men

2. there has been proof (as claimed by many fanatics of whichever side) that one side of the political divide is more spiritual and God fearing than the other - as if God judges the same way men judge

3. there has been strife as to whether whatever is happening is fulfilled prophecy - human or divine - as if God works the way men do 

Politics - just like the coronavirus - is the devil's stray arrow aimed at governments but unluckily (or rather, wilfully) striking the Church. He's killing two birds with one stone. And his stone is yelling more victory to him than anticipated. The faster we notice and see this, the better. The faster we rectify how we approach politics and politicians in this country as Christians, the better. 

But let's beware of the devil's bullet shot at governance but hitting at the Church. May our eyes be wide open and as skilled watchmen, let's blow the trumpet and alert Zion so that she is not attacked unawares. 

Right before elections, most of us on WhatsApp watched a clip from Hope FM (a CITAM radio station) where Bishop J.B. Masinde was saying something close to "we'll either get the leader we want, the leader we deserve or a leader after God's own heart". This, sure, did stir some waters. 

Watch the short clip here. 

Here is why this stirred our spiritual waters (and I wonder why we didn't discern his sentiments):

1. He meant that the choice of who will be our next president lied/lies in the people's hands. God is no longer choosing a leader for anyone, but He's giving us the leader we ask for through voting by the wisdom we currently have in Him or in ourselves. Kenya isn't a theocracy as Israel was for many years; Kenya is ruled by a constitution, and it being majorly secular, means that our way of electing a leader and justifying that election will first depend on what is stipulated in our constitution and then according to the wisdom bestowed on us by God to make godly decisions. If the election is fair and just, the leader is for all of us. 

2. Dissecting his words,

"A leader we want" would mean a leader we choose by ourselves according to our limited human understanding of our nation's past, present and future. He or she would be a circumstantial leader voted in by our volatile spiritual and emotional capabilities. 

"A leader we deserve" falls in the same category as above but also one given to us by our voting minus God's intervention or wisdom and one who comes as an answer to our sins or righteousness. 

"A leader after God's own heart" would be the one we vote in while fully depending on the wisdom God had given us to do so. It is unlikely for a secular nation to elect such a leader unless God's hand that shapes hearts compels people to do so. 

It is therefore error to try and fix God or the devil on either side of the political coin - even though God's finger is always everywhere in history and the devil is as well God's devil (Martin Luther). I don't know which of the three we chose, but if it's what is causing divisions amongst us, let's be reminded that it is of no eternal value. Leaders come and go, and nations rise and fall, but the Name of The Lord is to be esteemed forever. 

You don't have to know who I voted in to be my president, but be sure that I had my preference and I had reasons for that (you as well did.) I may have armed myself with such reasons out of data gathered from around me or from the wisdom of Scripture, but that does not make my candidate any better than another person's - especially on the basis of who God would choose for presidency in Kenya and who will accomplish His purposes for this season. 

Our combined / cumulated wisdom or foolishness brought us a leader we need to pray for. That's what matters. It's all our doing. We are all going to be victims or participants in what that foolishness or wisdom has brought us. After this, let's pray, let's advice and let's be more alert. Let us not open a door to the devil to divide us - especially those who confess Jesus as Lord - along utterly temporal political lines. 

But, again, in God's agenda, whether we are ruled over by a Nebuchadnezzar, a Cyrus, or a Artaxerxes; whether it's Herod roaming our streets or a Constantine is Rome's superior, God's chosen who know Him well will still do exploits in this land and experience everything that comes with that to the fullest. 

The righteous - just like in prophet Jeremiah's time (Jeremiah 29:28) - should now understand that they'll prosper wherever they are and under whoever rules because ours is not a Kingdom limited by/to human agenda and influence but one ruled by an eternal God. 

I rest my case.

Think about these things.

Morris 2.0

#MpeketoniAttack: Possible Solutions

Late yesterday, as I watched football, [sic], I was writing a letter to my dad which I had planned to post on my blog this morning, but things happened to move so fast and I found myself overhearing information on #MpeketoniSiege or #MpeketoniAttack courtesy of Twitter. (Yeah, Twitter is our all-time CNN on this side of the world.) I have therefore chosen, as a patriot and a true Kenyan, to scribble a few notes on solutions to terror attacks that have grown rampant in this nation. I'll still post that letter though - somewhere in the course of this week, I know that my dad will still understand ;-) - so keep peeping...

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As a Kenyan, nothing pains me more than seeing my fellow citizens in such a beautiful and free nation suffer due to lack of insecurity. Just in a period of less than one year, so many have died, so many families have lost their loved ones and pain has been eminent across the country. We have all been affected by these terror attacks I none way or another.

Instead of sitting around and complaining, and as a devoted Christian, I have stopped and prayed: for those families victimized by these attacks. I have also fasted endlessly, (this is not blabbing - God is my witness), and talked to the Lord about our situation and I know that as sure as He listens to our prayer, He is going to come though, help and save us.

But to add on this, I have a few recommendations to the JUBILEE government which I will list below as part of what I think is part of the solution to this problem instead of spending endless days on empty politics and stop-gapping CORD which is just playing its role in ensuring that the government is on its feet and is ardently serving the citizens of this great republic.

Note: I am neither JUBILEE nor CORD.

One of the houses torched by the attackers.

Residents view two vans that were burnt down.

Note: The above images/photos are courtesy of www.standardmedia.co.ke

Here are the recommendations;

1. Allow the Police Force and security organs to use mobile phones as a way of enhancing real-time communication between citizens and our security forces. We are in the 21st century, and you can bet that over 70% of the Kenyan population has access to a mobile phone. At least one out of ten people can access a mobile phone within a walking area of 10 minutes. Let the Police get toll free mobile numbers for every police station across the country and make these numbers accessible for reporting any incidences on suspected terror attacks. It is that easy: dedicate these numbers to suspected terror attacks and once we are done, make them open to other criminal incidences. We all know that calling 112 or 999 in this nation is only comparable to going to the moon by plane: a big failure. Why is it so hard for the government to buy cheap phones and dedicate them to this task? CCTV cameras don't give real-time feedback when such remote areas as Mpeketoni are concerned, mobile phones will help. Someone can report shootings this fast, and the police should be ready to listen to us. (And it doesn’t need to be the police doing it. The government can create a special unit to freely receive information from citizens all day long.) Security agencies should know that we the citizens of this great republic sometimes know more about terror suspects than they do. Give us an open platform to deliver information to you!!

2.   Liaise with foreign governments to obtain security intelligence on terror attacks.  The government should stop being proud and ease itself towards gaining knowledge on how to run our security. Pride precedes a fall. Just this morning, the national broadcaster reported that the Al Shabaab are claiming ownership of the attacks that begun yesterday at 8pm. Intelligence is important and it should not be taken for granted. If western countries begun evacuating their citizens from Mpeketoni in the afternoon of yesterday before the attacks, why didn’t the government act to ask them why they were doing this? Is it not just pride at the expense of innocent citizens?

3.   Security is a priority and the right of every Kenyan, so the government should stop politicizing it. The opposition under CORD has argued that there is need for dialogue to solve the problems facing this nation – amongst them being security. The government has thrown aside such a possibility and the only thing they seem to be good at is heckling away CORD and banning their rallies. CORD may not have requested for the need for dialogue in the best way, but the underlying truth is that dialogue is important to solving the problems we are facing as Kenyans, and the problems we are likely to face in future if action is not taken. Kenya is a democracy and if our government is not autocratic, (although I have a feeling that is where we are headed), it should allow for dialogue to continue for the good of the whole nation. The more we politicize security matters, the more free Kenyan citizens suffer due to the arrogance and pride of our leadership. Open communication in solving a major Kenyan problem should not be underrated or overlooked due to petty politics.

4. Equip our police. I say it again: equip and motivate our police!!! Let me give you an analogy: How can a university student belonging to a campus that has less competence, facilitation and minute infrastructure compete in a market that is overcrowded with other students that are well trained and equipped? He/she can’t. In the same way, let the government first equip the policemen in these highly vulnerable zones before rolling out this upgrade to other areas. I hear that the attackers had better and more sophisticated weaponry – to the extent of even attacking a police station!! This is unacceptable!! We all know that Lamu and Mombasa counties and the major cities and towns in this country are more vulnerable to attacks than any other areas. Why not start with improving police facilities, equipment and remuneration in these areas before any other areas in our country? Why make budget allocations that never benefit the intended purpose? Why is the government not uptight in its priorities as far as governance is concerned? Who advices the president on decision making? Don’t they see and witness these things?

5. Give us the truth. Yes this goes out to all those bosses in the security firms in this nation: please give us the truth. When we are attacked, we need the truth, not second-hand half-truths-and-half-lies!! Stop the speculations by giving us the truth! In this internet age, we always have the truth. We only need you to give it back to us. This is a fact. Make us common citizens trust in you. Make us believe that you are the best leaders to hold those positions you are in. You should stop making the president of this nation and his government looking bad by giving us false information and half-truths. You have been appointed to a task, please carry it out faithfully. Don’t lie to us as you would lie to an animal. We have common sense, we see what is happening, so please just give us the truth!!

6. Stop victimizing Muslims. People could give the best information under the freedom of speech, but once they realize that this information is going to be held against them because of their religious affiliation, you may never get it from them. This is what is happening to our Muslim brothers in this nation: they are being victimized for wrongs (I guess) they have not committed. A basic police training rule says that, “You may never get genuine information from a person you have already concluded to be a criminal…” Of all Muslims in the world, I think Kenyan Muslims are the least radical. I am of the opinion that whoever brings about the chaos in this nation is a foreigner who comes in to radicalize our Muslim youth, and therefore without these foreigners, not many Muslim youth will get entangled in violence and murder. Is this so hard to understand and correct?

I am praying for the affected, but we still need action from our government. We need action to ensure safety to the citizens of this land!

I close my case.

Bonface Morris.