Historic Churches in Samburu
Baragoi Deanery: Baragoi Catholic Mission
Nearly seven decades after missionary begun in the Coast Regions of Kenya, it was about to painstakingly make a debut in Northern Kenya, among the nomads. No one questioned the difficulties of the task ahead, taken up by the intransigent missioners who were ready to risk it all. Although some missionaries had travelled to northern Kenya in the early 20th Century, no meaningful presence was set up until the 1950s. This was rather late relative to other regions of Kenya on account shortage of manpower, the diverse and fierce nomadic tribes in northern Kenya, and the extremely poor transportation infrastructure that rendered it inaccessible.
On top of this, there was the little big problem of northern Kenya being a closed district during much of the colonial era because of periodic and unpredictable civil unrest and the regular incursions of livestock raiders over the borders from Ethiopia and Somalia. Northern Kenya was shrouded in mystery and lot of putrid press. Obvious perhaps, and apt to be overlooked, was the harsh climate. And, if the above were not enough dampers, many of the early missionaries to northern Kenya were beleaguered to frustration and, sadly, some were killed by bandits, like Reverend Michele Stallone at Baragoi and Reverend Luigi Graiff at South Horr.
In the end, no obstacle was too great to thwart the tide of a new world of modern Christianity. Among the pioneer priests to northern Kenya, aiming to grow modern Christianity with Baragoi as the epicenter, were Fr. Andrione, who arrived in 1951, and Fr. Michael Stallone, the following years, who went on to become the longest serving parish priest at Baragoi serving for over 12 years. Stallone, later felled by bandits, was convinced that from Baragoi Christianity would spread to Northern Kenya. Together they founded, from 1952, Baragoi Catholic Mission. It became the first mission under the Diocese of Marsabit; when Baragoi was under Marsabit.
Among the ambitious aims of the Consolata Mission was to evangelize Christianity and bring about communion and peaceful co-existence among the communities. ‘Christianity Among the Nomads’ is a book that provides insight into the social and religious transformations that have occurred in northern Kenya in recent decades. Indubitably, despite the odds, Baragoi Parish thrived, and later opened parishes at Loyangalani, South-Horr, Tuum and Sererit. In 2001, the South Samburu District was separated from the Diocese of Marsabit to create the Diocese of Maralal.
The stark angular holding of Baragoi Catholic, accentuated with a reddish hue in honour of the ochre used by the nomads, was built in dedication to Francis Xavier, one of the greatest missionaries since St. Paul, who visited Malindi along the coast of Kenya in 1542 on his voyage to India. It is also devoted to the Catholic pioneer missionaries to northern Kenya, most of whom came from Nyeri and Meru; like Monsignor Charles Cavallera who served as Bishop of Nyeri from 1947 to 1964. He then became the first Bishop of Marsabit in 1964 and served there up until 1981.
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
Samburu County, in northern Kenya, offers stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and unique wildlife. Known for its stunning mountains, hills, remote wilderness, traditional Samburu culture, and less-visited national reserves, the county provides an authentic experience away from the popular safari circuit.
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A Guide to Samburu County
A Summa Digest of Samburu
About Samburu Way Back When
50 Destinations in Samburu County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, west then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Shaba National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Ashnil Samburu Camp, Archer's Post, Chanler’s Falls, Umoja Cultural Village, Nashipa Eco Camp, Lion's Cave Camp, Samburu National Reserve, Samburu Sopa Lodge, Samburu Intrepids Camp, Ewaso Lions, Kalama Conservancy, Saruni Samburu Lodge, Westgate Conservancy, Rhodia Mann Museum, Meibai Conservancy, Mount Ololokwe, Namunyak Community Conservancy, Sarara Camp, Singing Wells, Reteti Sanctuary, Mathews Range, Kitich Camp, Sera Conservancy, Saruni Rhino Camp, Ndoto Mountains, Mlima Tatu, Ngurunit, Ngurunit Rock Pools, Camp Ndotto, Mount Nyiru, Desert Rose, El Barta, Samburu Hills, Baragoi Deanery, Nachola Site, Napong Hills, Losiolo Escarpment, Emuruangogolak, Kirisia Forest, Ngari Hill Lodge, Maralal Safari Lodge, Yale Camp, Maralal Camel Derby, Kenyatta House Maralal, Loroghi Plateau, Engare Narok Sanctuary, Lake Mbaringon
Know More About Samburu County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Samburu is almost always hot! The driest months are January and February. The mean annual temperature is 29oC, with fast blowing winds especially on the lowlands. Rain is temporal and erratic.
Over 80% of Samburu lies within the fragile arid to semi-arid ecological vast block of Kenya. Altitude, excepting the ranges and mountains, varies from 2040 ms to 600 ms asl.