Historic Churches in Makueni
Kalamba African Inland Church: Since 1895
Some of the earliest and leading missionary societies in Kenya were: The Church Missionary Society, Mill Hill Mission, Holy Ghost Mission, Africa Inland Mission, the Church of Scotland Mission and United Methodist Society, all tied to mission roles, African leadership development, and the prosperity of indigenous Christianity. The African Inland Church traces its roots to the Africa Inland Mission (AIM), founded in 1895 by American missionary Peter Cameron Scott. On August 17th, 1895, AIM’s founding mission party set off, consisting of Peter Scott, his sister Margaret, and 6 others. They arrived off the east African coast in October, and in little more than a month set off from the coast with an idea to establish a series of churches in the hinterland. AIMs initial bases were to be Kalamba, Sakai, Kilingu and Kangundo.
More missioner workers came from Canada and the United States, and the small group expanded to 15. The AIM’s initial base was among the Kamba people in the present-day Eastern Province of Kenya of then Ukambani Province above Seyyid Said province or the coast province. That same year, not far from the conspicuous Nzaui Range, they found a site to set up one the whooped up churches in Kenya, at Kalamba. Needless to say, they facing numerous hardships and losses in its early years. Unwavering, In 1903, they set up another base at Mukaa. north of Kalamba. In 1932, the first church building at Kalamba was replaced with a new one, marking the continued growth of the mission. The small red-brick holding of AIC Kalamba Church became the foremost African Inland Church to be founded.
Still standing today, the small Church is considered one of the oldest in the interior of Kenya. On October 21st, 1971, at a national gathering at Mumbuni in Machakos, AIM ceded mission its stations to AIC, and AIM became a department of the AIC in all church related matters. Presently, the African Inland Church (AIC) is among the largest protestant denomination within Kenya, with about 3,000 Churches around Kenya. Aside from its unique enriching history, callers to AIC Kalamba get to learn more on the gripping history of a perilous and onerous era in Kenya where roads, phones, towns and civilization were practically non-existence. What’s more, its well-thought location with uninterrupted views of rolling hills and valley conveys the care and attention early missioners took in selecting the site, despite the odds.
You don’t have to be religious, or even spiritual, to enjoy a beautiful old church. The architecture, the stained glass, the history, and the famous graves all make visiting historic churches a fulfilling activity on any trip. Kenya has a lot of very old and lovely churches, and you can enter most of them free of charge, at any time.
Index of Historic Churches in Kenya
Baringo County - St. Swithin's Church, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Wewo Catholic Church, Homa Bay County - SDA Church Gendia, Asumbi Catholic Church, Isiolo County - St. Eusebius Cathedral, Kericho County - AIC Kericho, The Sacred Heart Cathedral, ACK Kericho, Kiambu County - St. Mary's of the Angels Church, All Saints Limuru, Watson Scott Memorial Church, PCEA Thogoto Mission Church, Kilifi County - Thomas Wakefield Memorial Methodist Church, The Portuguese Chapel, ACK Rabai Church, Kisumu County - St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Kitui County - AIC Ikutha, Lamu County - Lamu Catholic Church, Machakos County - AIC Mumbuni, Makueni County - AIC Kalamba, Kyale Catholic Church, Meru County - St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kaaga Methodist Church, Migori County - Komotobo Mission Church, Mombasa County - The ACK Mombasa Memorial Church, Holy Ghost Cathedral, ACK Emmanuel Church, Muranga County - Muranga St. James & All Martyrs Church, Tuthu Catholic Church, Nairobi County - St. Stephen Cathedral, St. Austins Cathedral, The All Saints Cathedral, Nakuru County - The Church of Goodwill Elementaita, Remembrance Church Njoro, Nyandarua County - Knessiah 7th Day Jewish Main Synagogue, Nyeri County - Tumu Tumu Hill Church, The Consolata Nyeri Cathedral, PCEA St Curthbert Church, Italian Memorial Church, Samburu County - Baragoi Catholic Mission, Siaya County - Rangala Catholic Church, Taita Taveta County - St. Marks Anglican Church, The Bura Mission Catholic Church, ACK Trinity Church Mahoo, Tana River County - Ngao Neukirchen Church, Hola Methodist Church, Tharaka Nithi County - PCEA Chogoria Church, Trans Nzoia County - St. Lukes Anglican Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Vihiga County - Kidundu Friends Church, Kima Church of God, African Divine Church, West Pokot County - The Holy Cross Church Kacheliba, The Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa
outlook
Flanked by the A109 Nairobi-Mombasa Road on its eastern flank, Makueni County is part of the Lower Eastern Kenya region. Major towns like Mtito Andei and Emali serve as trade hubs along the A109, the former being the traditional halfway stop and rest. Other towns enroute are; Sultan Hamud and Kibwezi. Home to Akamba people, it is so commonly referred to Ukambani – alongside Kitui and Machakos.
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Explore Destinations Near Kalamba African Inland Church
A Guide to Makueni County
A Summa Digest of Makueni
About Makueni Way Back When
50 Destinations in Makueni County, arranged as one would visit these - north, east, west then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Mbooni Hills, Konza Technopolis, Kilima Kiu Manor, Mulima Dam, ACK Resort Salama, Makongo View Point, Katithini, Wote Green Public Park, Thwake Dam, R. Kaiti Bridge, Kampi ya Mawe, Kusyombunguo Hotel, Nzueni Hill, Nzaui Heritage Trail, Nzaui Rock, Mii Project, Makueni Cultural Center, AIC Kalamba, Kalamba Fruit Factory, Virgin Mary Rock, Emali Hills, Emali Trig, Ka Kindui Falls, Dare Devil's Rock, Kyanzizi Falls, Ilovoto Falls, Kyale Catholic Church, The Kenze Gorges, Kilungu Hills, Hunter's Lodge, Makindu Handicrafts, Makindu Sikh Temple, Mbiu Nzau Hills, Kambua Resort, Kivungoni Springs, Kibwezi Forest, Umani Springs, Chyulu Hills National Park, Kisula Caves, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Yatta Plateau, Ngai Ndethya National Reserve, Kilalinda Conservancy, Tsavo Safari Camp, P. Cameron Camp, Patterson's Safari Camp
Know More About Makueni County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Makueni County’s terrain is generally low-lying, falling to 600 ms near Tsavo at the southern region. That is to also say, land rises from low-lying terrain of about 600 meters above sea level in the southern Tsavo area to higher elevations in the hills. Prominent ranges include the volcanic Chyulu Hills in the south-west, Mbooni Hills and Kilungu Hills.
Climate about Makueni varies based on altitude – with the north being cooler – 20oC to 24oC, while the south, more so during the dryer months, between May and October, experience generous heat.
