Teacher Fatally Shot at School

African children in school
The shooting took place in front of
elementary school students.

Suspected al-Shabaab militants walked into an elementary school compound in northeastern Kenya on May 31st, shooting a Christian teacher to death in front of the pupils. Elly Oloo Ojiema was shot at Fafi Primary School, about 100 kilometres from Garissa. After the shooting, the suspected members of the notorious Somali rebel group kidnapped another Christian teacher, Joseph Kamau, along with a Muslim teacher who tried to defend him.

According to the testimony of a colleague, the abducted Muslim teacher announced while trying to shield the Kenyan Christian that he was willing to die with him. The witness further explains: "The al-Shabaab (rebels) got angry and told the teacher, 'We are going to teach you a lesson for protecting the infidels,' and immediately the two were carried away to an unknown destination."

Before escaping the school with the two captured teachers, the militants beat the Muslims of Somali descent merely for housing Kenyan Christians. "We are sounding a warning to you that we shall not take lightly you who are accommodating these infidels," one of the attackers threatened.

The incident has increased concerns among Christians in Garissa, who are already on edge after years of guerrilla assaults by Somali rebels fighting the government in Somalia. A pastors' fellowship in Garissa met on June 2nd and called on the Kenyan government to provide more security. Officials responded by promising to send security guards to protect community members during worship services.

May the loving comfort of our Lord be powerfully experienced in the lives of the students and teachers -- as well as their families -- who have been affected by the tragic shooting and abductions. Ask Him to protect the two captured teachers as they await their hopeful release, giving them the assurance of His abiding presence while in captivity. Pray that the Christians in Kenya will not succumb to fear, even in the wake of such chaos and hate, but rather hold steadfastly onto God (their "Rock," "Fortress" and "Deliverer"), who promises to be "an ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1; 18:2).

  • Country Information

    Kenya map & flagPopulation
    57,052,004 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Kikuyu (17.1), Luhya (14.3), Kalenjin (13.4), Luo (10.7), Kamba (9.8), Somali (5.8), Kisii (5.7), Mijikenda (5.2), Meru (4.2), Maasai (2.5), Turkana (2.1), other (9.2)

    Religions (%)
    Christian (85.5) (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4% other 11.1%), Muslim (10.9), Other (1.8), None (1.6)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Leader
    President William Ruto (2022)

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in a new Supreme Court established pursuant to the new constitution

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Kenya

    Pray that Somali refugees within Kenya will be open to the gospel. Ask the Lord to encourage believers to be unified in heart and purpose as they serve converts from Islam. Pray that churches in the northeastern region will remain strong as they face Islamist attacks.

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Kenya News

  • Five Church Buildings Burned
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    Pray that Christians in Kenya will continue
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    Five church buildings were destroyed by fire in the town of Otamba, Kisii County, between January 21st and 26th, causing great concern among the residents of the community. While ten people were arrested shortly afterwards, the motive behind the attacks is unknown at this point.

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  • Christians Ordered to Leave Area
    al-Shabaab - Photo: Voice of America www.voanews.com
    Photo: Voice of America

    On February 23rd, an audio recording was released by al-Shabaab demanding that all non-local Christians leave three provinces in northeastern Kenya. In the 25-minute clip, a spokesman for the Somalia-based Islamic terrorists urged any ethnic Somalis in the area to evict non-Muslims. The message claimed that many Muslims in the area were unemployed, so they should be given the jobs held by the non-Muslims.

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  • Christian Teachers Killed
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    Photo: Voice of America

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  • Pastor Beaten Unconscious
    A street in Garissa - Photo: Wikimedia/Adam H T Geelle
    Garissa, Kenya
    Photo: Wikimedia/Adam H T Geelle (cc)

    An underground pastor in eastern Kenya, near the Somali border, was severely beaten on the night of March 8th. Muslim militants assaulted him with wooden clubs, leaving him unconscious and with a broken leg, bruises and other injuries.

    Pastor Abdul (surname withheld for security reasons) is a 30-year-old father of three. He serves as pastor to an underground church consisting of 30 former Muslims who, for safety, meet in small groups on varying days. He was on his way home after a prayer gathering on the outskirts of Garissa when several Somali Muslims attacked him. Most ethnic Somalis believe that all people of their nationality must adhere to Islam.

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Kenya: Fear and Faith After Church Attack
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