Kenya

Government seeks to eliminate Christianity

Inspired by Islamic radicals in Somalia, Muslim politicians have made it their agenda to eliminate Christianity in Kenya. Officials often demand churches do things that are not in line with their faith, while militants viciously carry out suicide bomb attacks and other brutal acts of Christian persecution against those considered to be the enemies of Islam. Due to corruption inside the government agencies, those operating against Christians tragically often enjoy impunity.

How Christians are suffering

Although all Christian communities are affected by persecution, those who convert to Christianity from the Muslim faith face constant threat of attack from even their closest relatives. This year, Christians were attacked in their village and forced to flee. Reportedly, the Islamic fundamentalist group al-Shabaab has infiltrated some locales to spy on Christians. Organized corruption and crime are also a serious problem. Biased officials often fail to confront violence against Christians.

Examples

In some parts of the northeastern and coastal regions, Christians are often ostracized and denied access to community resources. For example, in February 2018, three Christian staff were killed by fundamentalist militants at a primary school outside of Somalia.

In September, two people were killed for failing to recite the Islamic statement of faith when militants, believed to belong to the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, attacked their bus in eastern Kenya.

In October, two Christian school teachers were killed in an attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants in Kenya’s Mandera County.