Beliefs and Practices of the Kenya Roho Msalaba Church in Rachuonyo South and East Sub Counties, Homabay County, Kenya
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Date
2025-05
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CEDRED
Abstract
The study explored the beliefs, practices and community engagement of the Kenya Roho Msalaba Church (KRMC), an African Instituted Church (AIC) in Rachuonyo South and East sub-counties, Homabay County, Kenya, highlighting its role in blending Christian theology with African cultural practices. Emerging as a response to the cultural insensitivity of missionary Christianity, AICs like the KRMC emphasize pneumatology, healing and eschatological beliefs, fostering a unique religious identity that addresses spiritual and social. Guided by objectives that assessed the major beliefs and practices of the KRMC in Rachuonyo South and East sub-counties, Homabay County, examined the historical development of the KRMC within the context of the Roho movement in Kenya and explored the KRMC’s engagement with formal education affecting community development, the study drew on the theory by Turner (1967). A qualitative case study design, employing triangulation was used to collect data from n=228 respondents across three KRMC branches. Findings revealed that the KRMC’s Christocentric theology of adherents affirmed Jesus Christ’s centrality and its pneumatological focus emphasizing the Holy Spirit, drive practices like speaking in tongues, healing and vernacular worship, aligning with broader AIC trends. The church’s rejection of ancestral veneration and polygamy distinguishes it from some AICs, reflecting a selective cultural integration rooted in biblical principles. Historically, the KRMC, established in 2003, builds on the Roho movement’s legacy of spiritual autonomy, adapting to modern challenges while maintaining cultural resonance. Its engagement with formal education supports community development, though patriarchal gender dynamics limit women’s leadership roles. The study recommends on theological training to mitigate risks of misinterpretation and greater inclusion of women in leadership to enhance church growth, ensuring the KRMC’s continued relevance in addressing contemporary societal pressures like globalization and gender equality
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Ariemba, S. K; Mwaura, P & Gathogo, J. (2025). Beliefs and Practices of the Kenya Roho Msalaba Church in Rachuonyo South and East Sub Counties, Homabay County, Kenya. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 9(5), 91 – 103