Christian, by name.

Am called Dennis. Perhaps not such a traditional Christian name. I always wondered why my parents chose the name. Maybe because I was born around the same period when Dennis White was a famous preacher in NPC Valley Road, a church they attended. If they hoped I become a powerful preacher like White, then surely I went off-road. 

   My father's name is Hezekiah. I do not know the early life of biblical Hezekiah, but his later years resembles the path my father chose nearly thirty years ago. Before that he was an adventurous mid 20s Baite, selling veve, enjoying the drink and serving his country as a police officer. He saw the light when I was still a toddler and it changed him forever. Like King Hezekiah, dad who became chief threw out anything that he felt was ungodly; even his jukebox and secular music discs. He became devout, never missing a day to pray and meditate. In his service, he never took a bribe which brought him derision and ill treatment from corrupt mates. He quit his job and became chief. If he wasn't a Christian chief...

   Peter was the corner stone on which the church would be built. James was the disciple Jesus loved. Paul, was the apostle who wrote most of the testament by grace. John was he who made the way for the Messiah. Titus was the diligent student and apprentice to Paul. Isaac was the son of the promise. Moses was the god-fearing leader. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samson, Zechariah, Abraham... all these, people who feared God.

  Kenya, a 80% Christian nation adopted the nomenclature. You find a James Kimani in a robbery with violence; Mary Wanja is a prostitute and drug peddler. David Ouma is stealing development funds by fake tenders. Sarah Ahmed is a famous socialite. Mark Mutiso will not serve you until you substantially scratch his back. John Mwenda is used by politicians to source rowdy youth whe disrupt peaceful rallies. Abraham Ng'eno, Silas Nzombo, Peter Wanyama, and so on. We are as far away from being Christian as our names to resembling the biblical characters. Yea, we all go to church on Sunday/ Saturday but live in Hell all week long. Names aside, the likes of Dennis, William, Loise, Anthony, Zoe, Dwayne and Janet profess to Christianity and live like Satan's cousin.

 The truth is, most of us who claim to know Him, will be left behind to gnash teeth and burn without burning out. Because a Christian is a person who follows Christ in word and deeds.