Unreached People Groups

WINTER 2023 | Praying for Kenya

• Somalis – 99.9% Muslim
• Garre Oromo – 80% Muslim
• Majikenda, Digo – 80% Muslim

January | Somalis – over 3 million; 99.9% Muslim, 0.09% Evangelical

• The Somali people in Kenya are an extremely family-oriented, nomadic people. While a majority of Somalis in Kenya are Shafiite Muslims, numerous other beliefs are intermingled into their religious practices. Villagers and urban settlers frequently turn to the wadaad (a religious expert) for blessings, charms, and advice in worldly matters. Unfortunately, the few missionaries who have been to this people group have seen little fruit from evangelism.

February | Garre Oromo – 1 million; 80% Muslim, 0.01% Evangelical

• The Garre Oromo in Kenya, originally from Somalia, actually have a larger population in Kenya than they do in their country of origin. This people group is marked by complete loyalty to one another and often will position their living quarters in a way that allows them to easily care for each other. The Garre are widely Muslim and are very orthodox in their religious practices.

March | Majikenda, Digo – 450,000; 80% Muslim, 0.05% Evangelical

• The Digo are an East African tribe right on the border of Tanzania. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Digo experienced a time of great famine, which led many of them to give either themselves or their children as temporary collateral for a loan of food. Many of the Digo became slaves. Later on, these people were redeemed from slavery after converting to Islam. Ancestral worship customs, such as blood sacrifices and use of witch doctors, are deeply embedded into their Islamic practices. While their belief in Islam is shallow, they have adopted many Muslim religious practices.

How can we pray for them?

• Pray for the believing minority who suffer great persecution and martyrdom.
• Pray for courage and strength for those who are boldly sharing their faith.
• Pray for safe fellowship and encouragement for isolated believers.