Kenya

A growing threat of Islamic radicalism

Even though Kenya is a majority-Christian country, reports have indicated that a growing al-Shabab presence in the northeast and coastal regions monitors the activities of Christians. Believers in these parts of Kenya who converted from Islam live under constant threat of attack—even from their closest relatives. Organized corruption and crime are also serious problems. Corrupt officials do not take measures against those who persecute Christians; this encourages additional acts of persecution.

How Christians are suffering

All Christian communities in the country face persecution although where they live and which Christian groups they belong to significantly impact the level of persecution. Radical Muslims living in Kenya, together with militants crossing the border from Somalia, severely persecute Christians and in recent years have been responsible for the killing of hundreds of Christians. Any Christian who lives or works in countries bordering Somalia is at risk for intimidation and attacks by al-Shabab.

Examples

In some parts of Kenya’s northeastern and coastal regions, Christians are often ostracized and denied access to community resources.

On January 15, 2019, al-Shabab took responsibility for a 19-hour siege of a hotel in Nairobi and the killing of more than 10 people. The Islamic extremist group said it took the action because the U.S. President had declared Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.

Four days later on January 19, 2019, a Christian convert was beaten and subsequently arrested by Muslim policemen on the outskirts of Nairobi after refusing to renounce Christianity.

On May 17, 2019, a Muslim mob attacked four churches in Nairobi, injuring several Christians.

Population and number of Christian statistics: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2019).