Historic Churches in West Pokot
Dini ya Roho ya Mafuta Pole ya Africa Church
They call it their “Jerusalem”, the place where The Messiah – Jesus Christ – died and was resurrected. For the last nine years, the church’s place of worship has stood tall in Suk, a remote village. Its traditions include having two separate doors for men and women into the house of worship, removal of shoes and naming of newborns based on dreams by elder members of the church. At least 4,000 members of the Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa congregate in the beautiful church every Saturday to worship. It is a large, strikking and awe inspiring church.
Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa was established in 1940. It was banned by the colonial government shortly after for its perceived anticolonial outlook. Quite removed from modern Kenya, Suk, dotted with four beautiful hills from which streams flow, giving the sleepy area a natural beauty, was an unlikely place for such a huge movement. The group, established by a blacksmith who became Pokot community’s spiritual leader, has attracted both love and ridicule in equal measure. Its founding father was Lucas Pkech, a blacksmith from near Kapenguria.
So concerning was Dini Ya Msambwa among the settlers that the Institute of Current World Affairs published a rather lengthy didactic newsletter of the sect in August, 1954: “the story of Dini ya Msambwa is but once aspect of an upheaval going on all over East Africa as millions of Africans cut themselves loose from the old tribal state. As is often remarked, a Sorcerer’s Apprentice has been at work here in the form of the colonial administrator, the settler and the missionary. They have unleashed a force as powerful in its own way as a hydrogen bomb and that force can be seen in the ambitions, disappointments, fumblings and progress of East Africa’s black millions as they hurry to catch up with the white race.
Dini ya Msamba originated in the highlands of the Bukusu tribe on the southern slopes of Mount Elgon, in modern day Bungoma County. On the surface, the picture, in the thriving farmlands, was one of prosperity and contentment. Or so the settlers and colonial officers thought. In any case, the farmers were well remunerated and the people chast and hardworking. But beneath impassive Bukusu agrarian faces amoulder deep resentment and anti-white feelings. After the initial violence to quell the sect, it went underground, and the administration and the police, fearful of having another Mau Mau on their hands, kept a watch.
The next leap in the spread of Dini ya Msabwa to the Suk region was one that both confused and dumbfounded all involved. And while the general sentiment across the country was one of the knives edge it was an unlikely move. The Suk had only being slightly touched or involved with the Europeans. The Bukusu were agrarian Bantu, while the nilotic Suk were more or less patrolists doing little farming. Still and all, it could be argued that the spread was in line with the frenzy of anti-colonial feelings. Inevitably, the emergence of sect in West Pokot led to, like in Bukusu, violence and bloodshed, none, perhaps, as infamous as Kolloa Massacre.
On April 24, 1950, Lucas Pkech and more than 500 other believers of Mafuta Pole lost their lives at Kolloa, where they had congregated to preach the word of God, only to be killed by the colonial government who thought they were making war.
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
Touring West Pokot County in Kenya offers a chance to explore a region known for its iconic, rugged landscapes, vibrant cultures, and rich traditions. Located in the extreme northwest part of the country, bordering Uganda, West Pokot County is primary inhabited by the Pokot community, known for their pastoralist lifestyle.
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A Guide to West Pokot County
A Summa Digest of West Pokot
About West Pokot Way Back When
32 Destinations in West Pokot County, arranged as one would visit these - south to northeast - with the aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Kaisagat Viewpoint, Barnley's Guest House, Kapkoris Hill Viewpoint, Dini ya Roho Church, Mount Murpus, Chewoyet High School, Kapenguria Museum, Kapenguria Town, Chelanga Gardens, Tartar Falls, Kacheliba, Holy Cross Church Kacheliba, Alale Gold Mines, Suam River Beach, Kamatira Forest, Lounon Village, Cherangani Hills, Marich Pass, Marich Pass Center, Kang'alan Escarpment, Kolloa Cross Monument, Weiwei Irrigation Scheme, Tamkal Valley, Mount Koh, Sekerr Range, Mount Mtelo View Lodge, Nasolot National Reserve, Turkwel Dam, Turkwel Gorge, State Lodge, Riting
Know More About West Pokot County: Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Air Like In W. Pokot?
West Pokot has significant variations in temperature with the lower lands experiencing temperatures of up to 33oC, and highlands experiencing modest temperatures of 15oC.
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.24?
West Pokot County is marked by a variety of topographic features – dry plains in the north, a hatful of ranges and hills in the mid, and in the south east Cherangani Hills.