Religion

Perhaps a better title for this would be faith. The people of Kenya have such a great faith! When the future is tentative, everybody says "We'll do this, God willing." If bad things happen to a family, they don't seem to question, but again consider it "God's will."
A large part of the population is Christian, and another large part Muslim. The two do not seem to get along with each other. I get really frustrated when I hear people say "those Muslims" because they think that every one of them is radical. However, the radical Muslims preach openly against Christianity in an attempt to spread hatred towards them. Really it goes both ways. Before I left I met with a Sister, Sr. Toni Rausch who lived in Tanzania for many years and she gave me a brochure on Christian/Muslim relations. As you may know, I am "pro-love-and-acceptance" and don't understand all the animosity as they are worshiping the same God.
Catholicism is the most prominent Christian Religions, but I am still surprised at the number of Kingdom Hall's of Jehovah's Witnesses. In the north, there was one non-denominational church that was gaining followers by promising camels if you became baptized. In the Catholic church, at least, there is a lack of priests. The parish here has 16 "outstations" where the priests rotate between. The outstations have Mass 2x per month and otherwise have a prayer service. Each one has a trained Catechist who leads this. There is one Mwalimu (teacher) in the primary school here who walks 45 to Mass each day (and when there is no school 45 minutes back as well). Sisters and Fathers are generally well respected.
It is interesting the combination of traditional African customs and traditional Christianity. For example, at the moment there are about 40 boys young teenage secluded in the school who have just been circumcised and are basically having their initiation time. (They knew what they were coming for, but they didn't know when the actual circumcision would happen -- how weird is it to know when someone will be circumcised before they do! )
Some of the elderly still follow traditional Kenyan religion -- mostly believing that God lives on Mount Kenya. I think I mentioned that in the desert we encountered people who believe the devil lives inside of them, which keeps them from going to Christian church. In the day time the Fathers go and visit them and take tea in their houses (they are not bad people) but at night when they drum is when the ceremonies happen and people will even swallow hot coals. Really interesting.