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West Pokot: Kenya's "Wild West" The people of West Pokot, Kenya, weren’t disturbed by this year’s post-election violence. In fact, they could care less about politics. But that doesn’t make their district safe.
“It is a land where even the army and the police fear to tread unless in large platoons and protected by helicopter gunships,” writes one Kenyan journalist for The Nation newspaper.
Julius Kiprop “It is largely seen as Kenya’s Wild West.”
This semi-arid frontier is home to Julius Kiprop, a former village chief who will soon graduate from Moffat Bible College in Kijabe, Kenya. In July he will return to West Pokot a pastor.
“Much of the area has no churches, no schools, no roads, no hospitals,” says Kiprop. “In the place I came from, few know the Lord.
“There is no way they'll know unless I preach,” he adds.
Paul Manyara, principal of Moffat, says preachers have been spread thin, and that some churches have no pastors at all.
“It will be a busy time for me,” acknowledges Kiprop. Already, three churches anxiously await his return. The closest to home is six kilometers away—a good hike when you don’t own a vehicle.
Switching gears from chief to pastor represents a significant leap for Kiprop—not to mention an inevitable pay cut. Besides providing for the love of his life, Julius must also provide for two kids. He can’t say how he will manage, but says his “burden” for his people is overwhelming.
“Through reading the Bible [at Moffat] you hear of many examples of people who trust the Lord,” he says. “You find that being a Christian is a life of trusting in the Lord…it is by serving that the Lord makes you to trust him—you put the service first.” |
