Pomp and prayer as New Year rolls in

Thousands of Kenyans thronged bars, restaurants and churches to welcome the New Year. In Kisumu, Prophet David Owuor led thousands of residents to usher in the New Year with a message to Kenyans to repent and reconcile.

Dr Owuor, of the Repentance and Holiness Ministry said that the church had lost its authority to lead the country to God because most church leaders were involved in corruption and immorality. “Some preachers ask people to contribute money before being prayed for but the people were not healed. The church must abandon these ills and walk in the highway of holiness,” said Dr Owuor.

In Malindi, thousands of people streamed onto the streets as the clock ticked towards midnight. Ululations and shouts of “Happy New Year” rent the air alongside loud bangs of fireworks from the beachfront of Malindi International Casino. Residents thronged the beach to look at the fire works, leaving no space for movement.

From as early as 10pm, the beach was a sea of humanity, with vehicles parked from the Malindi Police Station to Eden Roc hotel, a distance of about two kilometres. Families walked in groups, young lovers walked in pairs, full of hope that this year will be different from the rest.

Drivers hooting

As the clocked clicked midnight, Christians in churches went down on their knees to thank God for the new year. In Nairobi, thousands of people thronged on Kimathi street and Kenyatta Avenue, some sat on top of cars, drivers hooting as the clock struck midnight. Ululations and shouts rent the air, while DJ’s in clubs counted down to the New Year, amid song and dance. On Friday though, the city centre remained deserted the whole day.

Some people opted to go to pray, others took their families to various recreation parks. At the Holy Family Basilica, John Cardinal Njue led hundreds of Catholic faithful in prayers for a peaceful nation, asking them to embrace peace and live in harmony with one another regardless of tribe, opinion and other differences.

And at it was a jamboree at the Uhuru Park; families took boat rides as children enjoyed their little pleasures of face-painting, bouncing castles and rides. Vendors made a killing selling snacks and soft drinks.

In Naivasha, hundreds of Christians thronged their churches to usher in the New Year, as others opted to usher for social places. Hundreds of local and foreign tourists too, flocked to the lakeside town to enjoy their New Year holidays as hotels reported full bookings.

At the stroke of midnight, the church goers and other revellers at social places broke into wild jubilation. Screams of joy and merry making rent the air in Nakuru as hundreds of residents welcomed the New Year 2010.

By Abiud Ochieng’, Jacob Ng’etich, Stella Cherono, Paul Juma, Wanjiru Macharia, Francis Mureithi, David Macharia and KNA