Kenya (International Christian Concern) — In December 2023, the peaceful village of Witho in Lamu County, Kenya, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Somali-based al-Shabab militants stormed the town under the cover of darkness, targeting Christians. Families who had gone to bed in peace awoke to screams, flames, and terror.

Among the victims was Peter Munyao, a 44-year-old farmer, father, and devoted Christian. His life would never be the same again.

“The attack came without warning,” Munyao recalled. “Around 8 p.m., gunfire shattered the calm as al-Shabab militants stormed our village. The attackers demanded we recite the Islamic Shahada to identify non-Muslims.”

When his turn came, Munyao stood firm.

“They asked me to renounce my faith, but I couldn’t,” he said softly, his words heavy with sorrow and courage. “They beat me with sticks, hence breaking my leg. They burned my house and stole my goats, taking everything, clothes, and food.”

Munyao had no one to help since his wife and children had fled. Lying helpless, his home engulfed in flames, Peter thought it was the end.

“I lost my home, livestock, and farming tools, plunging me into despair,” he said. “I couldn’t walk, and I didn’t know how I would survive.”

For days, he struggled with pain and hopelessness. A man who once provided for his family now had nothing, no shelter, no food, no tools, no strength in his leg. Yet, even in the ashes of his despair, God had not forgotten him.

Then, International Christian Concern (ICC) stepped into Munyao’s story. We provided food, bedding, and medical support. Our staffers sat with Munyao, listened, prayed, and helped him process his deep trauma through counseling.

Then came an unexpected gift, one that would restore his dignity: a motorcycle. This gift offered him a new way to earn a living as a taxi driver.

“When I got the motorcycle, I felt like God had answered my prayers,” Munyao said. “I can’t farm yet because of my leg, but now my motorcycle can be used to carry passengers and goods. It gives me a way of getting money to help me put food on the table.”

What was once despair began to turn into hope.

“The motorcycle has transformed my life,” Munyao shared. “On a good day, I earn enough to cover food. I am now getting stronger.”

Today, every trip he makes on his motorcycle is more than just transport; it is a declaration that the flames of terror did not consume his faith.

“I thank God for sparing my life,” he said. “This motorcycle is a symbol of hope for me and my family at large. I am now faring on well; my life is rebuilt and my hope restored.”

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email [email protected]. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.