Historic Churches in Vihiga
African Divine Church: Gamalenga Headquarter
The headquarter of African Divine Church is located at Gamalenga on the right along Kisumu-Kakemega Road not too far from Chabuga Mausoleum, where the hero-founder lived. The property on which the small church sits was originally under communal rights before it was officially awarded for its current purpose. Despite receiving a putrid press in its early years as the cult of idol worshipers, the African Divine Church has grown in leaps from its humble origins and spread afar. On any given friday it’s not rare to find hundreds of its patrons singing, dancing, in dinkum, through this bucolic boondocks marching to pay tribute to their founder.
African Divine Church was founded in December of 1949 by Saul Chabuga, its first bishop. Today, it is a prominent African-initiated church in Western Kenya, mainly among the Luhya community. Launched during Kenya’s struggle for independence from British rule, at a time when African-initiated churches were growing as fork sought more culturally relevant forms of worship and spiritual expression, African Divine Church combined modern biblical teachings with traditional beliefs, values, and practices, offering a unique spiritual experience rooted in their local customs.
Locally and outwith, African Divine Church garnered fame for its vibrant worship services, habitually accompanied by traditional drumming, singing, and dancing, especially the Isukuti dance popular among the Luhya people, coming under the limelight during national celebrations. Services often include prayers for healing, blessings, and community well-being, and members place a strong emphasis on unity, morality, and social harmony. The church also uses unique symbols, such as white red laced robes and crosses which represent purity and spiritual dedication.
The very formation of African Divine Church was, in many ways, hard-earned, following a split from Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in 1947, off the back of leadership wrangles. The missioners of the latter had arrived in Kenya in 1918 and chose Western Kenya as their region of interest with their headquarter situated at a hilltop at Nyang’ori-Kiboswa on the outskirt of Kisumu City. In December 1947, Zachariah Oyiengo, then Pastor of Boma Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, was transferred to Itovo by the then mission lead, Morison. Oyiengo was replaced in 1948 by Jacob Ananda as the Pastor of the Gamalenga Pentecostal Assemblies.
As fate would have it, or by the grace of god the locals insist, Jacob was rejected by Gamalenga assembly as their pastor on the grounds that he had married from Gamalenga and that he was a foreigner from Bunyore. Morison, hoping to resolve the contention amicably, maintained his stand of appointing Ananda as pastor of Gamalenga and insisted, unequivocally, that he was not going to replace him with any other person. Morison went to Gamalenga assembly and chased away those who had objected to his choice of Ananda. At that time, Ananda, later known as Saul Chabuga, was the leader of Gamalenga Assembly. The locals did not bulge!
After being chased, Saul and his followers went and started worshiping near Peter Tsobi and Aineah Senge’s farm. The worship centre was given the name Boyani Pentecost “B” in 1948. When Morison heard of Boyani Pentecost “B”, he went and reported Saul Chabuga and his followers to the police and accused them of being members of the outlawed Dini ya Msambwa sect, labelled as anti-colonial and allegedly linked with idol worship. Following these allegations, Saul was arrested and afterwards released, but was to report to the police every month for a year.
After his probation, the police handed Chabuga to then District Commissioner, Mr. Hunter, of Kakamega who also monitored him and his church for a period of nine in. Subsequently, Hunter summoned Saul to Kakamega and advised him to duly bring along an ally who understood English. Saul took with him Silas Asembeka Were. Hunter requested the duo to draft the constitution, name of their church, their address, and look for a place for worship. On this high note, the two went back home, to Gamalenga, and met other elders to enforce the neoteric directives
The African Divine Church has expanded over the years, with branches in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and has a large following. It emphasizes African customs, traditional social structures, and community support, often addressing issues like poverty, health, and education. Its blending of Christianity and African traditions has made it a vital part of Kenya’s religious landscape and a central institution in the communities it serves. Not only has the ADC increased its involvement with the youth education, it is also seeking to become more involved in the growth of children within its churches. It has 60 primary schools spread throughout Kenya.
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
Typified by lush, green landscapes with rolling hills, rivers, waterfalls and forest, such as the much-noted Nganyi and Kaimosi Forests, which offer scenic spots for nature exploration and birdwatching, Vihiga County is famous for its agricultural productivity, especially tea and subsistence farming. Despite challenges related to population density it continues to thrive as a hotspot for farming and tourism.
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A Guide to Vihiga County
A Summa Digest of Vihiga
About Vihiga Way Back When
26 Attractions in Vihiga County, arranged as one would visit these - south, west, east then west - with aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Nganyi Rainmakers Forest, Roddy's Green Lounge, Bunyore Hills, Mbale, Kima Stone Mountain, Kima Church of God, Mwitoko Fish Farm, Kidundu Friends Church, Maragoli Hills, Mungoma Caves, Givavei Cave, Givavei Artisans, Jesus Wagevere Rock, Chabuga Mausoleum, African Divine Church, Obida Ombima Mill, Sosa Cottages, Mudete Tea Factory, Magnum Resort, Turaco Intercounty Resort, Kaimosi Forest, Kaimosi Mission Wildlife Conservancy, Kakamega Forest, Kibiri Forest, River Yala, Kichutu Gold Mine
Know More About Vihiga County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Vihiga experiences a high equatorial climate with well distributed rainfall year-round. Temperatures range between 14ºC and 32ºC.
Generally speaking, Vihiga slopes gently from west to east – with undulating hills and valleys plying streams flowing from northeast to southwest, all draining into Lake Victoria as the mouth.