Mutira Mission (1907-2011): the birth of a Christian empire in East Africa
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Date
2012-10-18
Authors
Gathogo, J.M.
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Abstract
The tiny Mutira village in the then Ndia Division, Kirinyaga County of Kenya, East
Africa, began as a Church Missionary Society (CMS) station, between 1907 and 1908
after Rev AW McGregor bought land from the locals. The mission work could not
however take place until the end of 1912, as resistance by some dissatisfied locals forced
the European mission team to temporarily abandon Mutira mission and migrated to the
neighbouring Kabare and Kigari missions. This article begins by surveying the political
history of Kenya, from 1895 when it was made a British protectorate and from 1920 to
1963 when it was made a British colony, and also during its post independence times
(1963 onwards). The article sets out on the premise that the birth of Christianity in Africa
during the 19th and 20th centuries came after a painful labour. In other words, European
missionaries, with the help of a few Africans, who midwifed this painful birth deserve
our special attention, as it is through them that a Christian empire was born in Africa.