📚✝️ EMERGENCE OF INDEPENDENT CHURCHES & SCHOOLS IN KENYA 🇰🇪

African Resistance to Colonial Interference in Education and Religion

Historical Context

This movement represented African protest against European interference with traditional African economic and political organization during colonial rule, combining religious, educational, and political resistance.

🛑 Primary Reasons for Emergence

Cultural Preservation

Africans wanted to retain cultural values while converting to Christianity, opposing missionary condemnation of customs like polygamy, traditional brews, and female circumcision.

Educational Reform

Rejection of the limited “3Rs” (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic) curriculum that prepared Africans only for low positions in government or European farms/homes.

Colonial Resistance

Protest against oppressive colonial policies including taxation, kipande system, forced labor, and racial discrimination.

African Leadership

Desire for self-governance in religious matters rather than European missionary control, exemplified by figures like John Owalo and Elijah Masinde.

Religious Interpretation

Dissatisfaction with missionary interpretation of scriptures and restrictions on African worship styles (dancing, drumming).

⚡ Defining Characteristics

1

Accommodated African cultural values in worship and education

2

Valued Christianity and Western education but rejected Westernization

3

Complete African leadership in churches and schools

4

Close collaboration with African political associations like KCA

NYANZA REGION MOVEMENT

John Owalo & Nomiya Luo Church

Background: Former member of Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland Mission (CSM), and CMS before founding independent church

1907: Claimed divine call to start his own church, dismissed as “lunatic” by CMS at Maseno

1910: Founded Nomiya Luo Church – Kenya’s first independent church, with permission from Nyanza PC John Ainsworth

Unique Aspect: Proclaimed himself as prophet equating to Jesus

Other Significant Nyanza Churches:

Church NameFounderYearUnique FeaturesOrigin
Dini ya Roho (Holy Spirit Church)Luhya members1927Speaking in tongues, baptism by ‘holy spirit’Breakaway from Friends African Mission
Joroho ChurchAlfayo Odongo Mango1932Similar to Dini ya RohoLuo community
Christian Universal Evangelical Union (Now Christian Evangelical Church)Ismael Noo1938Emphasized sexual relations among saved membersAnglican breakaway at Nyabondo convention

CENTRAL KENYA MOVEMENT

Context

Central Kenya experienced intense white settlement and missionary activity. Mission schools focused only on basic literacy/numeracy while condemning African practices (polygamy, traditional brews, female circumcision).

Key Developments Timeline:

1913

First Independent School

Established at Gaithieko, Kiambu on land donated by elder Mukunga wa Njehu

1925

Githunguri School

Second major independent school established and registered

1929-32

Female Circumcision Crisis

After mission schools expelled children of circumcision supporters, schools established at Gituamba (land donated by Kagere Gatundu and Gathai Gachohi) and later Mariira, Kahiti, Gakarara

1934

KISA Formation

Kikuyu Independent Schools Association established to coordinate schools with leaders: Daudi Maina Kiragu, Musa Muriithi, Hezekiah Gachui, Peter Gathecha, Johana Njoroge

By 1935: 34 schools with 2,518 pupils

1935

African Orthodox Church

Archbishop William Alexander from South Africa established seminary at Gituamba, ordained African ministers: Daudi Maina Kiragu, Philip Kiande, Harrison Gachukia Kimanga

1937

Pentecostal Breakaway

Daudi Maina Kiragu and Harrison Gachukia Kimanga formed African Independent Pentecostal Church

1939

Githunguri College

Kenya Teachers Training College established at Githunguri under Mbiyu Koinange to train teachers for independent schools

1952

State of Emergency

All independent schools and churches banned including KISA (168 schools, 60,000 pupils) and KKEA

Kikuyu Independent Schools Association (KISA)

Affiliation: Independent Pentecostal Church

Regions: Murang’a, Nyeri, Embu, Rift Valley

Leadership: Daudi Maina Kiragu, Musa Muriithi, Hezekiah Gachui

1952 Status: 168 schools, 60,000 pupils

Church: Named Independent Pentecostal Church in 1938

Kikuyu Karinga Educational Association (KKEA)

Meaning: “Karinga” = Pure (unpolluted Kikuyu customs)

Attitude: Opposed all cooperation with missionaries/colonial government

1940 Status: 12 schools in Kiambu, 11 in Rift Valley

Expansion: Schools in Moshi and Arusha (Tanganyika) by 1952

Church: African Orthodox Church of Kenya (1952)

Leaders: Arthur Gathuna, Philip Kiande

⚠️ Major Challenges Faced

1

Financial Constraints

Chronic underfunding to support growing numbers of pupils and schools

2

Personnel Issues

Lack of trained teachers and ordained ministers

3

External Opposition

Hostility from colonial government and mission schools

4

Internal Conflicts

Leadership squabbles and ideological differences among founders

5

Administrative Pressure

Forced compliance with colonial syllabus and District Education Boards

🎓 Legacy of the Movement

The independent churches and schools movement laid crucial groundwork for Kenyan nationalism, demonstrating African capacity for self-governance in education and religion while resisting colonial cultural imperialism.

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Elimu Assistant Team

By Elimu Assistant Team

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