(KENYA) “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” This verse in the book of Micah is very powerful to me, and it has had an impact on me during the time that I have worked with World Renew. When God created us, He did NOT plan for some people to have more than they can consume while others perish in poverty. My twelve years serving with World Renew has helped me understand the reality of poverty in Africa and specifically in sub-Saharan Africa where I spent most of my time working at all levels.

This verse in the book of Micah is very powerful to me, and it has had an impact on me during the time that I have worked with World Renew.

When God created us, He did NOT plan for some people to have more than they can consume while others perish in poverty. My twelve years serving with World Renew has helped me understand the reality of poverty in Africa and specifically in sub-Saharan Africa where I spent most of my time working at all levels.

I have mingled with very poor and very rich people in rural areas. At times I have asked myself why people have to live in an environment of disease, war, chronic hunger, drought, floods—you name it. Lord, does this have to be the situation our people should live in? “NO,” I hear him say, “it does not.” I hear this reply constantly, and I am convinced that it is the voice from God.

We have blamed laziness, lack of knowledge, or lack of skills, but what I can conclude from my experiences is that while these root causes of poverty may be partly to blame, in most cases poverty is designed. Who has designed such a system that allows some to perish in poverty while others dine and live in conditions beyond imagination in the same country?

If we all acted justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with our God, there would be no such a thing as poverty

I’ve concluded that greed is a major cause of poverty. People who have more than they can consume continue to accumulate wealth at the expense of the poor. If we all acted justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with our God, there would be no such a thing as poverty. God has given enough of everything for each one of His creation.

In addition, poor leadership has made room for this greed, and corruption on a societal level, and this union gives birth to evil.

I have been convicted over the years to become part of the political leadership of my country so that I can better contribute to policies that serve all people, not only the top twenty percent. There are very few leaders in the present leadership that look for the good of the majority of the citizens.

Our current leadership looks at the majority of the population as the source of income for their upkeep. I am running for a political office in Kenya because of the people in the rural areas living on less than a dollar a day. I dine with them at our rural home and understand the issues they face. I hear the Lord calling me to live with them and serve them.

To do this effectively, I need to enter the political arena as their representative. They have been asking me to do this, and I have seen that this is the right time: It is the Lord’s timing. The Lord has shown me how things are done in other countries, and it is time to put what I have learned and seen into practice in my home town.

I am running for political office in Kenya as a Christian who aims to make a difference. I want my fellow Christians to hold me accountable. I want the Christian Reformed Church in North America to hold me accountable because I have been nurtured by this church for the last 14 years. I ask for your prayers and support of any form.

To accomplish this, I have taken a leave of absence from World Renew for three months to run for office. I know that the Lord is calling me, and I am confident I have every opportunity to be elected successfully. I thank the leadership of World Renew for allowing me to run for office, and pray for God’s blessings on those who have encouraged and supported me there. To some it has been a surprise, but many of you have responded, “Yes! Your country needs people like you!”

Kenya has decentralized its structure of governance into counties that will be governed by governors and Senators. I will be running for one of these offices in my home county.

Please Pray

• Pray for communities where World Renew staff live and work. May God continue giving them the skills needed and the wisdom required to reach out.
• Pray for me as I run for political office in Kenya and for a change of leadership in our district.
• Pray for good governance in the countries in the East African region.
   

Davis Omanyo

East Africa Team Leader
World Renew Uganda