21 May 2025

Africa Region

Kenya

Kenya has an extensive history of trade since the 2nd century. This opened doors to the outside world, reaching as far as China by way of Persian and Middle Eastern trade routes. In the 1490s the Portuguese, using Mombasa as its base, sought to monopolize trade in the Indian Ocean, but Portugal lost power by the late 1600s. Later, in the 1890s, Germany and the UK had divided the region with Germany controlling the south (Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda), and the UK controlling the north (what is now Kenya), making it a British colony in 1920. Political disputes between the colony and the UK led to what is known as the Mau Mau Uprising in 1952 and ultimately independence from Britain in 1963. Stability has often had to be negotiated through coalition-building because of ethnic diversity and conflict. There are 70 distinct ethnic groups in Kenya, grouped under three broad linguistic groups: Bantu (relating to the Niger-Congo region), Nilotic (relating to the Nile region of Africa), and Cushite (related to Northeast Africa and the Horn of Africa). The majority religion is Christianity (85.5%), though nominalism has significant influence. The Church of the Nazarene established work in Kenya in 1984. With over 50% of the Kenyan population under the age of 25, education has been a primary focus of the church, leading to the establishment of Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi. It has proved to be highly influential, impacting Kenya and much of Africa with well-educated graduates in many disciplines. While poverty and literacy are significant challenges, the Church of the Nazarene is well-placed to address both with its commitment to transformational holistic development.

30,899 Members

241 Fully Organized Churches; 224 Not Yet Organized Churches

222 District Licensed and 130 Ordained Ministers on 7 Districts

The Bibles Project: Transforming Lives in Kenya’s Eastern District

What began as a small initiative has blossomed into a life-changing mission. The Bibles Project, started by the Kenya Eastern District superintendent with a personal donation of just 10 Bibles, has grown into a significant effort to spread the Word of God throughout the region. This mission has brought Bibles into the hands of people who have never owned one or whose well-worn copies are falling apart. More than 1,400 Bibles were reportedly distributed this year, illuminating hearts and transforming lives.

One of those changed lives is Muli, a man who spent years chasing fame as a band musician. His identity was tied to the guitar he strummed and the fleeting applause of the audience. But fame came at a price. Muli’s community distanced themselves, seeing only his perceived sins, and he was left isolated, wandering in search of purpose.

Everything changed one evening when the JESUS film was shown in a makeshift hall. Muli, drawn by a force he couldn't explain, watched and listened. As the film played, something stirred within him. The words penetrated his hardened heart, and at the end of the film, as people prayed, Muli wept. It was in that moment that his identity shifted—from musician to a child of God. A new purpose flowed through him like a melody he’d not heard before.

When Muli received his first Bible through the Bibles Project, it became a treasure beyond the music and fame he had once sought. He cherishes it, reading and absorbing its teachings. The skepticism that once clouded his heart has dissolved, replaced by a deep sense of love and faith. Muli’s life took on a new harmony, and he soon became a bridge, leading others in his community to the Word of God.

People like Muli are finding hope and renewal, but the project’s impact stretches far beyond individual lives—it’s reshaping communities, one transformed heart at a time. To read more about this project, click Bibles Project.

Could You Serve?

Is God calling you to join in his mission on the Africa Region? For more information, click here.

NMI Central is available in a curated PDF archive.
To read previous editions, click here.