PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN KENYA

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I, Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, write to you, the beloved saints in Kenya, who are called to be holy and faithful in Christ Jesus. I give thanks to God always for you, remembering your faith, your labour of love, and your steadfastness in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, as I have heard of your struggles and the challenges you face, I am compelled by the Spirit to exhort you, to encourage you, and to warn you with all sincerity and love.

The Folly of a Disintegrated Church

I beseech you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me that there are quarrels among you, each of you saying, "I follow this denomination," or "I follow that leader," or "We are more biblical than they." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of any man? By no means! For we are all one body in Christ, and members of one another. Let there be no schism in the body, but let the members have the same care for one another.

The Sin of Interdenominational Rivalry

What then shall we say? Are we not all servants of the same Lord? Yet I hear of rivalry and competition among you, as though the gospel were a marketplace and the church a business. Some boast of their numbers, others of their wealth, and still others of their influence. But let no one boast except in the Lord. For what do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power, and it is not a matter of competition but of love.

The Lies of the Prosperity Gospel

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Some are preaching a gospel of prosperity, claiming that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Resistance to Government Oversight

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. I urge you, therefore, to live as law-abiding citizens, not as those who seek to hide wrongdoing or resist accountability. For the church must be above reproach, a light to the world and a city on a hill.

The Silence of Seasoned Churches and Leaders

To the elders and leaders among you, I say this: Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Do not remain silent in the face of error, but speak the truth in love, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Conformity to the World's Agenda

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. The world is passing away, and its desires with it, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Leniency Toward Perversion

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: a man sleeping with his father’s wife, women exchanging natural relations for unnatural ones, and men likewise giving up natural relations with women and being consumed with passion for one another. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and put out of your fellowship the one who did this? Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

The Manufacture of Miracles

I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. But I am not surprised, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. It is no great thing, then, if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

A Call to Repentance and Renewal

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Written from the heart, by the Spirit’s leading, for the edification of the Church in Kenya.

A CALL FOR JUSTICE: Reforming Kenya’s Police Promotion System to End Career Stagnation and Corruption

In Kenya, the police service is not just a profession; it is a pillar of national security, a symbol of order, and a lifeline for millions of citizens who depend on its integrity and efficiency. Yet, beneath the uniformed exterior of this critical institution lies a deeply flawed system that has condemned countless officers to a lifetime of stagnation, frustration, and despair. The current structure, which ties job groups to ranks, has created a toxic environment where promotions are elusive, corruption thrives, and morale is perpetually low. This is not just an administrative failure—it is a moral injustice that demands urgent reform.

Imagine dedicating 35 years of your life to serving your country, only to retire in the same job group you joined as a fresh recruit. For many Kenyan police officers, this is not a hypothetical scenario—it is a harsh reality. The current system forces officers to climb a narrow ladder where promotions are not based on years of service, discipline, or dedication, but on the whims of superiors, the vagaries of luck, and, far too often, the corrosive influence of corruption, nepotism, and favoritism. This is not just unfair; it is an affront to the very principles of justice and meritocracy that the police service is supposed to uphold.

In contrast, consider the teaching profession in Kenya. A teacher can ascend through job groups based on experience and performance, without necessarily taking on leadership roles. A senior teacher can earn a higher basic pay than a school principal, with the principal receiving an allowance for their additional responsibilities. This system recognizes and rewards individual contribution, ensuring that no one is left behind simply because they did not secure a leadership position. It is a model of fairness and inclusivity that the police service would do well to emulate.

Why should a police constable, who has served diligently for decades, be denied the financial and professional recognition they deserve simply because they were never promoted to a higher rank? Why should their career progression be held hostage by a system that conflates rank with job group, creating a bottleneck that stifles growth and breeds discontent? The answer is simple: they should not. It is time to decouple job groups from ranks and create a system that rewards service, discipline, and dedication, while providing a clear and fair path for career advancement.

Under the proposed system, police officers would move up job groups based on years of service and discipline, independent of rank or responsibility. A constable could rise to a senior job group without becoming a sergeant or inspector, while those who take on leadership roles would earn responsibility allowances commensurate with their rank. This would not only boost morale but also reduce the rampant corruption and favoritism that plague the promotion process. By capping promotions at, say, job group K for anyone below the rank of inspector and requiring special qualifications to advance beyond that, the system would ensure fairness and transparency while maintaining high standards.

The benefits of such a reform are manifold. First, It would restore hope and motivation to thousands of officers who currently see no future in their careers. Knowing that their hard work and dedication will be recognized and rewarded, officers would be more likely to perform their duties with integrity and enthusiasm. Second, it would reduce the temptation to engage in corruption, as officers would no longer feel compelled to bribe their way to promotions. Third, it would create a more equitable and inclusive workplace, where every officer has the opportunity to progress and thrive.

Critics may argue that such a system would undermine the hierarchy and discipline of the police service. But this argument is fundamentally flawed. A well-structured system that rewards service and performance does not weaken hierarchy—it strengthens it by fostering a culture of fairness, respect, and mutual trust. Officers who feel valued and respected are more likely to respect their superiors and adhere to the chain of command. Moreover, the proposed system would still recognize and reward leadership through responsibility allowances, ensuring that those who take on additional duties are appropriately compensated.

The current system is not just broken—it is morally indefensible. It is a system that condemns hardworking officers to a lifetime of stagnation, while rewarding the connected and the corrupt. It is a system that undermines the very principles of justice and fairness that the police service is supposed to uphold. It is a system that must be reformed.

Kenya deserves a police service that is not only effective and efficient but also fair and just. A service where every officer, regardless of rank, has the opportunity to progress and thrive. A service that rewards dedication, discipline, and hard work, rather than connections and corruption. The time for reform is now. Let us create a system that honours the sacrifices of our police officers and ensures that no one is left behind. Let us build a police service that truly serves the people of Kenya.