MST-Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

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Browsing MST-Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies by Author "Ariemba, Kemunto Susan"

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    Beliefs and Practices of the Kenya Roho Msalaba Church and Its Participation in Formal Education within Homabay County, Kenya, 2003-2018
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-06) Ariemba, Kemunto Susan
    This study examined the history, beliefs and holistic practices of the Kenya Roho Msalaba Church (KRMC), an African Instituted Church in Luo Nyanza, which falls under the spirit/Roho Churches. It focused on the period of its inception, which is 2003 to 2018. Further, the research established the role of the KMRC in formal education in the County. What motivated the researcher to embark on this study was the fact that KMRC, an AIC, arose in an era of Pentecostalism in Christianity. This was an era when most scholarly attention had been diverted to new Pentecostalism away from the AICs that arose in the 1920s. Hence, the research sought to counter the assumption that post-colonial Africa did not foresee further emergencies of AICs. The research was done in Rachuonyo South and East sub-counties of Homabay County. The objectives were: to examine the history of the KRMC and to discuss the major beliefs and practices of KRMC. The research utilized the case study design to address the research problem. Glock’s Relative Deprivation Theory and Harold Turner’s theory on the emergence and nature of AICs were used. The triangulation methods of case studies were used in collecting data. Field research methods like Oral Interviews (OIs), Participant Observation (POs), questionnaires and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to collect primary data. Secondary sources of data were obtained from published journals, books, articles and theses. The study sample comprised the adherents of the 3 selected branches, including the leaders, the youth, adults, priests and 6 locals (non-adherents of the KRMC within the church’s vicinity). The sample selection was based on the variables of the respondents’ age, gender, position in the church and duration of membership. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used. A total of 228 respondents were selected out of whom 6 were non-adherents. The data collected was recorded. Qualitative data was coded and analysed thematically while data that was quantitative was analysed quantitatively using SPSS version 22. The results revealed that the Kenya Roho Msalaba Church has roots in the Musanda Holy Ghost Church and it was founded in 2003 in Nyakach by its first Archbishop Ayub Aongo, who hailed from Anura in Nyakach, Luo Nyanza. The Kenya Roho Msalaba separated from the Holy Christ Church, which in turn had separated from the Holy Truth Church. The Holy Truth Church broke away from the Cross Church while the Cross Church broke away from the Musanda Holy Ghost Church. These breakaways were a result of leadership wrangles and power struggles within the Church. There was also the need to strictly adhere to the Old Testament law. As its findings have demonstrated, KRMC has distinct beliefs and practices, such as belief in Jesus Christ and parousia, emphasis on pneumatology and special regalia, among others. The study described the history of the KMRC and recommends that the emerging AICs in the 21st century be studied, this would contribute to knowledge on the history of Pentecostalism and education in Kenya. Secondly, the study found out that there still exists a gap in the acquisition of education in rural areas. Thus, a recommendation was made that the government needed to work with the local churches in rural Kenya to fill the gap in the acquisition of education in rural Kenya. Thirdly, the research found out that women are not members of the ordained clergy; given that they are bold, aggressive and enterprising, they should be allowed to be ordained as leaders and be permitted in the altar.