When it comes to matters of religion and faith, there are many perceptions in the Kenyan population. Different people and groups when asked to share their divergent views on this sensitive topic that has marked major and uncrossable boundaries in the society, will amuse you with what they have to say. Some beliefs are accepted by some sects of people while they are brushed off in other places and considered non-issues. Matter’s religious orientation and beliefs is an issue that cannot be just overlooked. When we all understand our different views and perceptions towards certain things and appreciate what each one of us considers divine, then we can come to the point of having cohesion in society and a state of serenity. Kenya, the Pride of Africa, has various religious orientations and beliefs from the older generation to the Kenyan youth and this article focuses on the youthful population in Nairobi. This young population has so much to say when it comes to their divergent views on religion.
Kenya, and Nairobi to be specific, believe in the afterlife but what is different is what happens in The first matter in religion that has different views is the Afterlife. Most major religions in each situation and scenario. Ask most youth from Nairobi who proclaim to be Christians and they will tell you that they have hope in eternal life after the return of their savior who is Christ. The Muslim sect of young people will tell you that they also await a paradise after their life here on earth as faithful and obedient to their God. Traditional religions in Kenya will tell you that the dead of this world are alive somewhere else and will incarnate back into this realm someday. The young generation of those that believe in Buddha will tell you that life and death are continuous in that consciousness (the spirit), continues after death and one may be reborn. Still in the booming population of Kenya, and at the center of Nairobi dwellers, there lies a belief that there is nothing such as the afterlife and that we only live once and stop existing. The latter is proclaimed by the Atheist population in Kenya which is approximately 755000 according to the recent census that was held in 2019 by the government of Kenya.
Belief in miracles and the supernatural is another issue in religion that has different views and opinions. Most faiths based in Nairobi and the country at large believe in miracles and generally, even those that have no specific orientation to any faith believe in something beyond them. According to statistics, eight in ten people believe in miracles without the issue of religious orientation being considered. This is to mathematically say that 80% of a population sample from the youth of Nairobi believe in miracles. The 20% makes those that do not believe in miracles. Why is this? Why do certain people believe in miracles and others don’t? There might be several reasons and these are; religious/ strong beliefs- some people have strong faith in higher powers/the supernatural, others only rely on scientific explanations while people’s personal experiences and perspectives also contribute to the contention in this matter. According to a hypothesis, belief in miracles is widespread because humans are cognitively and developmentally biased toward forming and transmitting such a belief. Miracles are classified into four major categories; healing miracles, nature miracles, exorcisms, and restoration miracles. Some people believe in a certain class of miracles and dismiss some.
Formal membership in a religious sect is also an issue of this caliber. According to a 2012 report published on December 18, worldwide, more than eight in ten people identify with a religious group. This being a global statistic, narrows down to the country level and is true, especially in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, and especially among the youth. Kenya is a very religious country with different beautiful religions of people who have formal membership in their respective religious sects. However, some do not resonate with the view that they must have formal membership but just want people to associate themselves with them
Reading the holy scriptures comes fourth on the list. Starting with the major religions that have some degree of saturation in the population of the youth from Nairobi, reading the holy scriptures is not debatable. The Christian sect strongly prescribes the Bible, the Muslim sect recommends the Quran and the Buddhism sect recommends the Tripitaka which has three major divisions of Sutra Pitaka, Vinaga Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka. It is surprising to know that some faithful from other religions cross over the boundaries and embrace the sacred writings of other religions. Some youth in Nairobi simply have embraced reading different holy scriptures to fix their morality and not because they want to believe in a certain deity.
Prayer is last on this list and would not have missed when you just think of Religion. Some religions associated with the youth from Nairobi County have more prayer schedules than others. But no matter the religion, Prayer is an essential element. Some of the youth population don’t believe in prayer and view it as a waste of time and believe in simple logic and laws of the universe.
All religious views and opinions that do not disrespect humanity should be embraced so that a sense of belonging can be found in every one of us. Maintaining respect for others views is crucial to the attainment of a more habitable environment. The youth in Kenya, and Nairobi to be specific, have their different religious beliefs and should be appreciated by everyone.
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