Spiritual leaders in Kenya hold mass prayers to ask heaven for rain

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – People in Kenya were invited by the religious leaders to come together for a mass prayer to ask heaven for rain.

As AP reported sixth consecutive failed rainy season in the east and Horn of Africa, has imposed a hard drought conditions on these countries.

Kenya’s president is hoping the heavens will finally open with the help of a national day of mass prayer on Tuesday.

William Ruto announced the plans for the country’s first ever day of prayer on Sunday at a service in the drought-stricken city of Nakuru.

It follows a joint call by the country’s spiritual leaders to dedicate an entire day to prayer to ease drought conditions in the nation.

Ruto’s own ambitious economic revival strategy for the country is also dependent on a successful rainy season.

Kenya and other east African nations have been experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in decades, causing crop failure, loss of livestock, wildlife and biodiversity, and malnutrition. Domestic agriculture is a large part of Kenya’s economy.

The U.N. humanitarian agency has termed the ongoing drought in the region a “rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.”

Meteorologists say human-caused climate change has been exacerbating the extreme conditions.

Around the world people from different faiths have often sought divine intervention for rain or other favorable weather. Last summer Milan’s Archbishop made a pilgrimage to three churches in hopes of ending the country’s dry spell and Utah’s governor called for citizens to pray for rain ahead of a weekend of extreme heat.

Some Kenyans intend to heed the president’s call.