Kenya needs prayers hinged on repentance in order to free itself from the quagmire it is wallowing in such as the invasion of desert locusts that have marooned 13 counties.
This is according to gospel singer Alice Kamande.
In her ‘State of the Nation’ call to the altar, Kamande took to the scriptures and shared a snippet of 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, that, according to the New International Version states:
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
From it, Kamande – in a follow-up message- underscored why rants about Kenya’s institutions, change of leadership, Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), the war against al-Shabab insurgents and the thinning prospects will not help.
She pointed out that Kenyans must, in humility, seek God’s favour and reach His throne in supplication for grace and mercy.
“Have you heard? What does locusts have to do with us? You may ask. I have decided I will not complain about this nation I will pray for myself and others and I will pray for the leaders and institutions of justice, defence, management, leaders of faith and influencers.
“No matter how many times we eject, impeach, shuffle leaders in our country, form BBI, send how many troops to fight al-Shabaab. The remedy of healing the land at this point, and being prosperous once again, is in the power of those who are called by God’s name.
“In humility ask God to forgive us, then our prayers will reach the throne of grace and mercies upon the land. 2Chr7:13-16. Are you praying for Kenya? Let’s pray for our beloved nation. God loves us so much,” stated Kamande.
Punishment from God?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the locust population that crossed to Kenya on December 28, 2019, is expected to grow.
FAO warned that the swarm that has since invaded Machakos, Embu, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Meru, Turkana, Tana River, Baringo, Kitui and Laikipia counties, poses a serious threat, if not contained, to food security and livelihoods.
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A reality that saw anxious residents of Mbeere South Constituency harvest their crops, at night, after the swarm landed in the area on Friday, January 24.
“We must act immediately and at scale to combat and contain this invasion. As the rains start in March, there will be a new wave of locust breeding. Now is, therefore, the best time to control the swarms and safeguard people’s livelihoods and food security, and avert a further worsening of the food crisis,” said David Phiri, FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa.
According to the Head of the Plant Protection and Service Division at the Ministry of Agriculture David Mwangi, desert locusts are not common in Kenya.
“The last time we had them cross from neighbouring countries was in 2007,” said Mwangi of the pests that are found in ‘arid and semi-arid areas that can cover a distance of five to 130 kilometres with a tailwind speed of 17kph’.
