Hello Friends,

Just a quick prayer request as the President of Kenya just returned from the Hague for 2 days of court, facing accusations of human rights abuses during the 2008 election in which more than 1000 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced. I need to be careful what I say in this message as new measures by the government here against foreigners have been alarming and one of the possible outcomes of these hearing is “international sanctions” against the Kenyan government for lack of cooperation and withholding evidence essential to the justice process.

In a surprising TV speech to the nation and a Presidential report to the Kenyan parliament, Uhuru Kenyatta, the Supreme court appointed President, spent most of his time defending the ” National sovereignty ” of Kenya declaring this nation to be subject to only the laws of this nation. He referenced Kenya’s role in the creation of the International Crimes Court and his cooperation with the Kenyan government to provide all information requested for this investigation. He also maintained his innocence regarding all charges against him personally. Surprisingly, he ended his speech by saying he was appointing the Deputy President, Ruto, who is also facing the same charges by the ICC, to be the Acting President, while he, Kenyatta, cooperates with the ICC by attending the hearing in the Hague this week.



The media coverage is too vast to summarize, but it ranges from the heroic welcome Pres. Kenyatta received upon his return to Kenya and his speeches with Deputy Pres. Ruto who are traveling across the country castigating the court and describing it as a colonial tool that was being used to punish Kenyatta, just like they did to his father, former President Jomo Kenyatta who was tried and jailed by the British,-to speculation that unless Kenyatta produces the financial and telephone records demanded by the ICC that the case will either be dropped or forwarded to the International Sanctions Assembly. All pretty complicated and alarming to the people of Kenya. You and I have also been falsely accused of things we didn’t do, so I’m not assuming guilt or innocence  of either the President or his Deputy. The Prayer request is for quick justice, as the already continuing destabilization of the Kenyan government, by terrorist threat, economic oppression, student riots,  disease, and national anxiety has taken a toll.

Today the World Health organization listed Kenya in the top 20 countries most likely to face an Ebloa out break if the disease is not strictly confined to West Africa in the next 30 days. Last night I spoke with a family member of the African Director of WHO, who said, of course there is a cure to Ebola, but until the international community has the Will to intervene with the cure, rather than just heal the Westerners who can be flown back to their first world homes, the epidemic will continue. As always, money is the issue. The world is governed by the ” Golden Rule”, in power, war, food distribution & disease. He who has the Gold-Rules! This isn’t the way of Jesus. I’ll only quote one verse, “He who has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart, how can he say God’s love is in him?–(1 John 3:16-17). Is there anything we want to say and demonstrate more than that the “Love of God dwells in us”. The next verse, my paraphrase, says ” My children, don’t just talk about the needs of others, DO Something!” Write your government representatives and tell them to send the cure.Get close to the poor and share your material wealth.

Kenya needs to be healed, of political injustice, tribalism, corruption, disease and moved forward to empower the gifted and beautiful people of this nation.

As with my last message. It’s sobering to report serious issues and I want to always close with the good news of the Gospel and the un-reported , faithful, continuing acts of the Holy Spirit, in this nation and others, enabled by your prayers and support. Below are some pictures and stories of healing and redemption of students you have supported. Joseph just graduated from college with honors this weekend and during his senior year brought our attention to the desperate situation of 2 young girls from his village. As under-age teenagers, they had been promised by their parents, for a fee, to a man 3 times their age who already has other wives! You responded by not only continuing support for Joseph and many other college students we’ve supported since primary school, but also provided the support needed to rescue these 2 young girls, send them to boarding school in another city, with  the parents blessing, providing them a hopeful future.

We thank the Lord for His work among His people, in both the high and low places around the world. Pray for Kenya, as we also pray for you.

                                      

For the Kingdom,
Larry Warren
President, Leadership International-STORYSONG
Founder, African Leadership & Mocha Club
Executive Producer, OrphanSong Project