Letter from Africa: Bible-bashing for votes in Kenya

In our series of letters from african newshounds, joseph warungu reflects on how the bible has taken centre level within the conflict for the kenyan presidency.
If opposition leader raila odinga contests and wins the presidential election re-run on 26 october, a large chew of the kenyan population could be about to go into the biblical land of canaan.
That is because mr odinga has succeeded in boiling down the whole manifesto of his umbrella organization of opposition parties right into a single memorable phrase - "tunaenda kanani" - swahili for "we are going to canaan", the land that flows with milk and honey.
Presidential elections in kenya have become a complex affair.
Inside the past it became enough to shout your self hoarse on campaign platforms, lock up or silence your critics, exchange the constitution at will, distribute some sweets to supporters and you will wake up at state house.
A woman praying in church in kenya - archive shotimage copyrightafp
Photograph caption
Kenya is a deeply religious society
Now you need a multi-million dollar budget to hire helicopters, control the media, buy out political parties, patrol the virtual area viciously and seek advice from the exceptional conventional herbalists.
Similarly, you have to realize your bible nicely in the search for special anointing.
And so mr odinga - the presidential candidate of the countrywide excellent alliance (nasa) - has carefully studied the e book of joshua and solid himself in the position of the famous hero who succeeded moses, and led the fight to free up enemy territory and settle the israelites within the new land.
Titanic prayer classes
In the meantime, president uhuru kenyatta and his deputy william ruto, who're in search of re-election, ought to be tormented by sore knees, as they have got moved from church to church kneeling earlier than guys of god, who lay hands on them and deliver them the anointing.
Mr ruto has been at the centre of a religious typhoon as leaders of the pentecostal assemblies of god try and interpret what his current donation to them of 10m kenyan shillings ($68,00, £51,000) should mean.
A few say it turned into present for the development of the church, at the same time as others argue it turned into a political tithe to sway them to vote for his jubilee birthday celebration.
Joseph warungu:
Joseph warunguimage copyrightbbc sema kenya
"with the rival presidential candidates preserving their bibles close to their chest, kenyans have been on the appearance out for any divine sign that could assist them determine which of the 2 is the anointed one"
In a country wherein people's hopes for a better destiny have often been crushed by means of horrific politics, endemic corruption and deep-seated tribalism, many kenyans have always put their faith in god.
He is the simplest consistent and unchanging pressure for true.
While confronted with any calamity, kenyans have been known to go on their knees to are searching for god's intervention in substantial prayer meetings which might be broadcast stay at the media.
The politicians have woken as much as the reality that they stay in a kingdom of believers and to attain them you need to be visible to be god-fearing.
In can also, newspapers posted a photo of mr odinga praying on the historic western wall in jerusalem, at some point of a go to to israel.
Mr odinga explained that the wailing wall turned into extra than five,000 years old and was sacred to all three abrahamic religions - islam, judaism and christianity - and that to him it was a very strong image of power and team spirit.
Attacked by using bees
With the rival presidential candidates retaining their bibles near their chest, kenyans have been on the appearance out for any divine sign that would help them decide which of the two is the anointed one.
Earlier this 12 months, president kenyatta prompted an online tremor while he have become a "rainmaker".
Uhuru kenyatta quote card: image copyrightafp
Kenya's 'virtual president'
On a voter registration pressure in nyeri in relevant kenya, the crowd advised the president to wish for rain within the place, which had skilled a drought.
Minutes after he reluctantly prayed, there was a heavy downpour, prompting lively reactions on social media. One contributor stated: "our president is not simplest a frontrunner but a prophet!"
To counter mr odinga's metaphorical adventure to canaan, supporters of president kenyatta, who's left-surpassed, have additionally delved into the bible for idea and likened their candidate to king david.
The jubilee party trustworthy have long gone to the e book of judges, which refers to 700 left-surpassed soldiers from the tribe of benjamin being outstanding in the use of the sling as a device of warfare.
David too changed into an expert with the catapult and a few therefore argue he ought to were left-passed. And so pictures of president kenyatta writing with his left hand have accomplished the rounds on whatsapp to verify his management credentials.
Raila odinga quote card: photo copyrightepa
The man kenyans either love or detest
The bible became at the centre of a political hurricane again when angry bees attacked police and protesters out of doors the ultimate court on 20 september, as judges gave their full ruling for annulling the august election, pronouncing that it was marred by using irregularities.
In response to the incident, competition supporters quickly commenced to proportion a verse from the ebook of exodus that asserts: "and i can send the bees ahead of you to drive your enemies out of your manner."
With the electoral fee announcing a new date for the presidential poll, social media systems, in particular whatsapp, are once more awash with biblical messages and prayers for the two main candidates.
'love existence'
A famous kenyan comic has frequently joked about the dramatic nature of some of the prayers supplied with the aid of some intense church pastors: "may additionally god knock you down along with his favour, may also he carry you and throw you into a pool of prosperity, might also he embarrass you along with his riches!"
However now it is not a laughing depend.
A fellowship of pastors from 20 churches in langas, a neighbourhood in eldoret, kenya, march and pray for non violent elections on 6 august 2017image copyrightafp
Photograph caption
Many kenyans have been praying for a non violent re-run of the presidential vote
I've visible some of prayers shared on whatsapp from both facets of the political divide that are bible-based but with violent overtones. The intention is to stir up ethnic hatred and use the bible as a valid weapon of conflict.
President kenyatta entered the race with a prayer from the e-book of nehemiah that he shared in a stay radio interview: "recall me with favour, my god, for all i have achieved for those people."
Mr odinga ended his excellent court warfare with the book of joshua: "our journey to canaan is unstoppable," he said.
"on eight august we crossed the river jordan to attain the metropolis of jericho. We're marching directly to the metropolis of jerusalem, and we shall get there."
I am not pretty sure what israeli high minister benjamin netanyahu will make of the kenyan invasion, but probably israel's intelligence agency, mossad, has armed him with the precise bible verses.
However, whether or not it's far joshua, within the shape of mr odinga, or king david, within the shape of mr kenyatta, who wins the re-run, many kenyans will wish and pray that the applicants will heed the gospel of peter: "whoever would like lifestyles and see top days have to hold his tongue from evil… he ought to searching for peace and pursue it."