Everyone is religious. A common misconception is that religiosity has to do with going to church. This is not true. Even atheists are religious. The subtle beliefs we have that constitute our worldviews are part of our religion. Therefore, dismissing the existence of a Supreme Being is a religion of its own. What is the relevance of this reality in the Kenya of today? Read on. Kenyans, like most Africans and Middle Easterners, are deeply religious. The problem is that this religiosity has become an albatross around the necks of Kenyans. The function of religion should be to help bring order to the lives of the people. The Kenyan experience is the direct opposite. Organized religion characterized by churches and denominations are the centers of hate speech, trickery, malice, adultery, and other social, political, and economic ills. Look at these shameful examples: While the focus of the nation is on Islam and the attendant spirit of violence that threatens a church that is old and deeply involved in the civilization of humankind throughout the ages, evangelical and Holy Spirit churches especially the ones run by independent evangelists have taken over the work of conning unsuspecting Kenyans. It is no longer necessary to get a sharply dressed man in Moi Avenue trying to sell you a non-existent piece of land to lose your millions. All you have to do is listen to your pastor’s prosperity gospel and nonsense of sowing seeds and then you know that you are in for the deadly con game. The con in the street is actually better because he hits once and you are enlightened. The pastor in the pulpit steals from you until you move from Karen to Inner Core or Ofafa Jericho. In other words, like our government officials, the pastors do not steal until they are satisfied; they steal until it is over. To maximize on the guilt of their followers, veiled threats of financial stagnation for those who do not give generously or sow seeds are issued. False confessions of miraculous prosperity and healing are set to lure followers to seek out their own miracles by giving “their all.” Remember the shameful case of the prostitute who was fished by her client, a Pastor Njoroge, to confess how God had moved her mouth from somewhere around the neck to its normal location, just below the nose? Yes, that is what I am talking about. If you think that is nothing compared to terrorism, well, think again. That is terror of its own kind. There numerous other cases of child molestation by catholic priests, pastors molesting young boys and girls, snatching other people’s wives-now that some women have chosen to behave like cattle to the point of arguing that they need to be guarded or else they get stolen, and yes, the so called men of God grabbing property and spreading hate among Kenyans, some or most of whom are stupid enough to hate each other even when the idiot asking them to hate each other is their mutual enemy. And then you ask yourself-God, why do we have so many problems? We abuse the intelligence of God by pretending to be holy when we are not. We have more houses of God that are full of money changers. We have more preachers whose gospel is money and other worldly joys. Terrorism is obviously a big issue and the folly of some is to think that all Islam is terror. No! The prophet advocated peace with others and Muslim scholars have said as much. The Kenyan scenario is different because leaders from the Islamic community do not come out to distance themselves and the rest of peace-loving Muslims from the fringe elements whose behavior is subtractive rather than additive to Islam and Muslims. And this is where the media is also to blame because they are busy focusing on Vera Sidika’s shit-filled ass and her bleached skin instead of calling into their studios the leaders of Islam and pushing them to make it unequivocally clear that terror is not and has never been part of Islam. The reality is that at some point, all religions have had some level of violence and the Catholic-led violence of the middle ages stands as incontrovertible testimony. But the half-wits with scanty historical knowledge will rush to dismiss Islam and Muslims as violent. Then what? All is not lost. A culture of honesty must become of our national character if our religions have to mean anything. At the moment, they mean nothing. They actually mean destruction. National character comes from leadership. When the President stands tall and dismisses critics who genuinely ask why Kenya should be paying twice as much as Ethiopia for a single lane rail when Ethiopia is paying so little for two lanes on really really bad terrain that gave the Ethiopians the upper hand to kick out the malicious Italians, the leader of Helicopter Ministries will also easily dismiss those who ask him to stop demanding or even asking for seeds in order to pray for his brethren. But you know what? Citizens get the kind of leaders they deserve. America voters strive to get knowledge of issues and their leaders. And more often than not, they end up with people like JFK, Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Reagan, and yes, our own Obama. Once in a while a George Bush can come but this is the exception rather than the rule. Start with yourself-ask questions, be honest. If your pastor is driving a Range Rover when those paying “sadaka” come from slums, do not pay the “sadaka.” Take it to the street boy yourself and donate it there. Otherwise you are as evil as that rotten pastor. Let’s change the National Religion of the country. Together we can. Onchari Oyieyo Oncharioyieyo87@gmail.com
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