A New Year's prayer for peace

In the midst of our lead-up to New Year's Eve tonight, I ask you all to pray with me. My friends in Kenya are undergoing a tumultuous time in the wake of this past week's Presidential election.

The situation is this: the incumbent leader, Mwai Kibaki, was just declared the winner and the opposition asserts that the election was rigged. At the core of this conflict is Kenya's divisive problem with tribalism (long standing discrimination and frustration based on the power of certain tribes from throughout the nation). Reports of more than 100 dead and riots continuing grieves my heart.

The history of Kenya's tribal conflicts and political independence is murky and complex to understand or explain. I know so very little. I do know that I believe that there is no excuse for violence. None.

Let me be clear: the Kenyan people I know are peaceful, loving citizens that might be caught up in the midst of this - especially our friends in Kibera, an incredibly tribally divided slum where much violence is being reported.

Today, please help me pray for Salim and all the people at Carolinas for Kibera. Also for Gloria, Kwame, Nelson, Kim, Emmanuel, Juliana, Mary, Mercy, Kevin, Shiro, Mama Helen, Pamela, and any other people that the travelers of Soulfari Kenya have met. May they be safe and healthy and supportive to those around them who are caught in the midst of this.

If you're interested in learning more about this from a Kenyan perspective, please take some time to read an article about it today.

Please offer up your own good wishes or prayers that the violence stops and the country might come together. It is unsure whether the elections were in fact rigged (as dissidents report), and I pray that the right leader will be identified and allowed to come to power.