Kenyans Write to God as elections loom

By Eric Akasa

Thousand of Kenyans from all corners of the country have written to God since December 2012 sharing their aspirations, hopes, concerns and gratitude.

Most of the letters have been hand written and collected by the Write to God team and their supporters, who have facilitated Write to God sessions all over Kenya. These have been held in various establishments including, hospitals, universities, schools, industries, police stations, prisons, places of worship. Letter writers have also taken to the web where they have posted letters to the Write to God website and Face book.  Some have chosen to SMS a short message to God. Write to God organizers have been overwhelmed by how positively Kenyans of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds have responded to this peace initiative.

Voices of Kenyans

The principal organizers of the initiative have described the letters as inspiring, beautiful, sad and humorous. They have described them as ‘a beautiful canvas’ that captures Kenyan’s personality in a million different hues, both subtle and bold.

“I agree with the Indian monk who put in the newspaper that 1 million Kenyans should Write to God for the best decision” Presidential Candidate - Mr Mohamed Abduba Dida - ARK, The Presidential Debate 2013

Never before have the expectations, hopes, fears and dreams of so many Kenyans been recorded for the world to see, and for Kenyans themselves to see. Here are just a few excerpts from some of the extraordinary letters that Kenyans have written to God.

“Dear God I am grateful that you made me just me.  I am grateful that you are there for me even as I work to inspire change and joy in the lives of communities who are uprooted and are downtrodden upon. I want to ask you oh God to hold Kenya as we move towards elections.  I pray that you Oh God who is the most powerful may remove hatred from the hearts of Kenya – that we may love one another.”

“Dear Daddy in Heaven, thank you for our beloved Country. Thank you for the mountains and Rivers. Thank you for the land and all its resources. And most of all thank you for the people of Kenya. In your eyes we are all your children. We ask that you bestow on this country peace.”

“Dear God, I would like to give thanks to you.  Inside me, I was a very troublesome boy two years ago.  I was lacking many things such as food, shelter and education.  I am now in a children’s home and I am very peaceful and my life is good.” 

“Dear God, I’ve spent a good amount of time writing in my own notebook, but never to God. If I’d known it was this easy I’d have done it sooner!”

“Dear God, Lord, don't give up on me, help me, somewhere inside I feel like I am drowning. Don't let me die, rescue me.

I need you. I love you. Thank you for every little thing.”

“Dear God, I ran, I ran so fast in the furthest direction away from you………….. I found happiness, but it was worldly happiness, the kind that doesn’t last too long, so it didn’t last very long. …….And now am broken……………….So if it’s true that you do listen, if you could reach out, lend me a hand, at least to get me back on my feet, I would appreciate……………..”