National Council of Churches of Kenya marks 100 years of existence

By Steve Mkawale

Nakuru, Kenya: Church leaders affiliated to the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) converged at Kabarak University, Nakuru County, to take stock of the institution’s achievements during its centenary celebrations.

Led by NCCK Secretary General Rev Canon Peter Karanja, the clergymen took pride in the church’s achievement in education, health and good governance, saying the institution has, so far, succeeded in fulfilling the Lord’s call.

Rev Karanja took the congregation through key achievements of the institution, saying 50 per cent of the funds NCCK spends on its projects are generated locally.

“We have managed to successfully move from depending on donors for support and currently 50 per cent of the money utilised is generated locally,” he said.

Rev Karanja said the church has managed to spread the gospel to the point where 80 per cent of the country’s population professes the Christian faith. “

He said at least 64 per cent of education institutions are built and owned by churches, adding that some of the top performing national and provincial schools are either managed, owned or funded by the Church.

The Church, he said, has managed to invest heavily in health care and has not only focused on primary health but also specialised in health care that is commensurate with the demand of modern living and technology advancement.

The clergyman said the Church’s role in advocacy has been successful over the years and able to speak openly about injustices and excesses of governments, industries, cultural practices and international trends that undermine the dignity and well being of the people.

“The Church was instrumental in the constitutional making process and successfully mid-wifed the process through civic education and other forums,” he noted.

The Church, the leaders said, strives to address negative ethnicity, poverty, challenged families, diseases, unemployment, drug abuse, and insecurity among other issues.

The council’s chairperson Reverend Canon Rosemary Mbogo said NCCK has moved away from depending on western donors and was working towards ensuring 100 percent local funding of its projects.

“We have established a number of income generating projects like hotels and health care facilities, and we are now in the process of initiating the Jumia Schools to complement our income and provide education founded on strong Christian values,” she said.

To demonstrate how the Church has touched the lives of many, the council lined up testimonies from clergymen, students and persons who have benefitted from the initiatives of the council.

One such person was Ms Alice Chelimo, a first year university student at Kabianga University undertaking a nursing course. The council paid her education fees from class one to Form Four. She scored an A- (minus) in her KCSE exam.