Cleric urges Kenyans to pray for peace as Iran-Israel war grows

Murang'a Catholic Bishop James Maria Wainaina during a church service on March 4, 2025/ ALICE WAITHERA

A Murang'a cleric has urged Kenyans to pray for peace amid the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US, warning the war could spiral into a global crisis.

Murang’a Catholic Bishop James Maria Wainaina said the conflict has caused significant loss of life and destruction, leaving many people without access to basic needs such as food, water and shelter.

“We’re praying for the war to end and we invite all Kenyans to pray with us,” he said, urging the nations involved to embrace dialogue and seek a non-violent solution.

The conflict escalated on February 28, after joint airstrikes by the US and Israel targeted military and nuclear-related facilities in Iran.

The attacks were linked to long-standing tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional influence. The strikes also killed several senior Iranian military officials and the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and American military bases in the Middle East, drawing several countries in the region into the conflict and raising fears of a broader war.

Recent reports indicate the war has already claimed more than 1,000 lives in Iran alone, with many others injured as the bombardments continue.

Bishop Wainaina expressed concern the conflict could expand further and destabilise the global economy at a time when many countries are still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’re praying so that this war doesn’t spread further and turn into a global war like in the last century,” he said.

The cleric said global wars have historically caused widespread suffering, economic collapse and massive loss of life.

The World War I, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, was triggered by rising political tensions in Europe with the conflict drawing in many of the world’s major powers, resulting in more than 16 million deaths.

About two decades later, the World War II broke out in 1939 after Nazi Germany invaded Poland. The war lasted until 1945 and became the deadliest conflict in human history, causing more than 70 million deaths and devastating economies and infrastructure across Europe, Asia and beyond.

The Murang’a bishop warned that another global war would have severe consequences for countries across the world, including Kenya, where many households are already grappling with high cost of living and declining incomes.

“Many challenges can arise from war. Already the global economy is deteriorating and many people are struggling to access basic needs, especially in war zones,” he said.

However, he encouraged Christians not to lose hope despite the scale of the conflict.

“As believers we know that God is with us and we cannot lose hope. Even though the war may seem huge, we pray knowing that God hears our prayers,” he said.

He said wars in one region often affect the entire world through disruptions in trade, energy supplies and the global economy.

“The war may affect all parts of the globe,” he warned.

For Kenya, the instability could affect key foreign exchange earners including tea, coffee, horticultural produce and tourism with the country exporting large quantities of tea and coffee to markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.