On January 5th, al-Shabaab jihadists attacked a military base in Lamu County, on the coast of Kenya. Three Americans were killed, and aircraft and other vehicles were destroyed. The base is used in joint efforts by Kenya and the U.S. Two others were wounded but were in stable condition and were being evacuated.
Two days later, on the 7th, several children and adults were killed or injured at a primary school in Garissa County, Kenya, when suspected al-Shabaab terrorists tried to destroy a telecommunications tower in a remote village near the Somali border.
“Christians have been targets for al-Shabaab for years and should take appropriate actions for protection,” said Bright Hope CEO C.H. Dyer.
Open Doors, a nonprofit supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, says that Muslim Kenyan politicians who have been “inspired by Islamic radicals in Somalia” have made it their goal to wipe out Christianity in Kenya.
“Reportedly, the Islamic fundamentalist group al-Shabaab has infiltrated some locales to spy on Christians. Organized corruption and crime are also a serious problem,” they write on their website. “Biased officials often fail to confront violence against Christians.”
Please be praying for Kenya. Specifically:
• Pray for the safety of Kenyan Christians—especially those who have converted from Islam
• Pray that plans for any future attacks would be thwarted
• Pray for divine wisdom for the Kenyan and U.S. military forces fighting radical Islam in Kenya and the surrounding countries
More details on the recent attacks can be found here:
Lamu County Attack: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50997769
Garissa Primary School Attack: https://www.voanews.com/africa/4-people-killed-suspected-al-shabab-attack-kenya
Open Doors Kenya Analysis: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/kenya/
