The global Deliverance Church family is four weeks away from its 55th Diaspora Conference, scheduled to take place from Thursday, November 6, to Sunday, November 9, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona, USA. This milestone event, themed 'Decorating the Crown of Rejoicing,' will commemorate 55 years since the church's founding in 1970.

Prominent Kenyan bishops, including Bishop Dr. Mark Kariuki, Bishop JB Masinde, Bishop William Tuimising, Bishop George Gichana, and Bishop Steve Mungai, are expected to attend the conference. The event aims to be a moment of reflection, thanksgiving, and spiritual renewal, featuring worship, prayer, testimonies, and prophetic declarations.

Recent Tragedies Impacting the Kenyan Diaspora

The upcoming conference coincides with a period of mourning for several Kenyan families in the United States. The Kenyan diaspora community has recently been affected by a series of unfortunate deaths, highlighting the challenges faced by Kenyans living abroad.

Fred Ojienda Gondi, 33, a US Navy veteran, was found deceased in his apartment in Burnsville, Minnesota. His family, who had recently relocated to Florida, discovered his passing after being unable to reach him for several days. Gondi leaves behind his wife, Sylvia Gondi, and their 18-month-old son, Lloyd Ojienda, who reside in Kenya. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist with funeral expenses and the repatriation of his body to Kenya for burial.

In Wichita, Kansas, Jesse Macharia Njagi, born on January 17, 2007, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Jesse, a student at Trinity High School, was known for his passion for videography, photography, and entrepreneurship. His funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11:00 AM EAT at Central Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas, with visitation on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM EAT at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.

Another tragic incident involved Brian Mburu, a 22-year-old Kenyan man from Nakuru County, who was fatally shot by a stray bullet in Greenwood, Indiana, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Mburu was caught in a crossfire during a domestic dispute in an apartment complex parking lot. Emergency responders transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family in Nakuru learned of his death through social media. Due to financial constraints, Mburu was buried in the U.S., where his mother resides, and some relatives were denied visas to attend the funeral.

Context and Community Support

These incidents underscore the vulnerabilities faced by Kenyans living abroad, often far from their extended families and traditional support systems. The Kenyan diaspora, estimated at over 20,000 in Australia alone, plays a crucial role in cultural exchange and contributes significantly to Kenya's economy through remittances. In the first half of 2025, remittances from Australia to Kenya reached $112.8 million, making Australia Kenya's fourth-largest source of remittances.

Community appeals, such as the GoFundMe for Fred Ojienda Gondi, demonstrate the spirit of 'harambee' within the diaspora, where individuals rally to support those in need during challenging times.

What to Watch

The Deliverance Church @55 Diaspora Conference will proceed as planned, offering a platform for spiritual gathering and community building. Meanwhile, the families of Fred Ojienda Gondi, Jesse Njagi, and Brian Mburu continue to seek solace and support. The ongoing investigations into the deaths of Fred Ojienda Gondi and Brian Mburu are expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding these tragedies.