African Inland Mission and Social Transformation in Machakos District, Kenya, 1895-1971
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AFRICAN INLAND MISSION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN MACHAKOS DISTRICT, KENYA, 1895-1971 MUSYOKI A. MUIA A Thesis Submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in History of Egerton University EGERTON UNIVERSITY SEPTEMBER 2020 DECLARATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Declaration This thesis is my original work and to the best of my knowledge, it has not been presented for any academic award in this or any other institution. Signature _________________________Date____________________________ Musyoki A. Muia ASM11/00809/16. Recommendations This thesis has been submitted with our recommendation as the university supervisors. Signature _________________________Date____________________________ Prof. Reuben Matheka Department of Philosophy, History and Religion Egerton University, Njoro Signature _________________________Date____________________________ Dr. Mary Chepchieng Department of Philosophy, History and Religion Egerton University, Njoro ii COPYRIGHT ©2020, Musyoki A. Muia All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form or means without prior written permission of the author or Egerton University. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my Mum, Theresia Musyoki. iv ACKNOWLEGEMENTS I thank God Almighty for granting me health, strength and wisdom during the time of this study, may His Name be exalted and glorified. I would like to express my gratitude to Egerton University, through whom my supervisors: Prof. Reuben Matheka and Dr. Mary Chepchieng. Prof. Matheka not only helped me conceptualise the research problem but also guided me in finding source materials that were useful to the study. Besides directing me on where to find materials, Matheka even made an effort to provide me with some. I am also grateful to him for being approachable and for his fast response whenever I needed help. He always read my work critically and did not hesitate to offer advice as required. Equally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Chepchieng for her unrelenting support to me since I joined Egerton University for my master’s programme. Specifically, I would like to thank her for being the first person to encourage me to pursue the subject of this thesis right from my course work days. She greatly helped me to learn how to write a history research proposal. Additionally, Dr. Chepchieng was ready to help whenever I consulted her. She always looked at my work critically and advised on how to approach the various themes of the study. I thank her for being approachable, supportive and willingness to help whenever necessary. During my master’s studies, I have also benefited from the support of other members of the Department of Philosophy, History and Religion. I would especially like to thank Dr. Isaac Tarus, the Chairman of the Department, for the support he gave me throughout my period of study. Specifically, I would like to thank him for helping me formulate my research objectives and for providing some of the materials I used to come up with the research problem. Special thanks also go to AIC pastors in Machakos and Makueni counties starting with Rev. Munyao Kyengo, an AIC missionary from Kangundo working in Southern Sudan, who helped me get informants in Kangundo area. I would also like to thank Mr. Titus Muli and Pastor Benson Kitinga of AIC Mumbuni for helping me access resources from their church. v ABSTRACT This study aimed at analysing the impact of African Inland Mission (AIM) on social transformation in the Machakos District in eastern Kenya from 1895 to 1971. Specifically, the study sought to outline the growth of the mission in the district and how it influenced social change as well as analysing the challenges that faced this denomination in transforming society in Machakos District. Consequently, the study outlines the elements of the Kamba traditional life before the coming of AIM missionaries in the district besides tracing the origin and the growth of the mission in the district between 1895 and 1971. It also analyses the subsequent transformation as a result of the mission’s presence in the district. In addition, the study examines the challenges that the mission faced as it initiated social changes in the district. The study was guided by the following research questions: How did AIM influence begin and spread in Machakos District in the 1895 to 1971 period? How effective was the mission in promoting social change in the district? What challenges did the mission face? The structural- functionalism theory formulated by Herbert Spencer and developed further by Emile Durkheim was used to analyse the role of AIM in influencing social change in Machakos District. The qualitative research design involving the use of in-depth interviews with key informants was used. A target population consisting of local residents, former administrators and African Inland Church (AIC) leaders was interviewed. The study used the purposive method of sampling. A sample size of sixty informants was used. Primary data was collected using in-depth oral interviews as well as from archival records while secondary data was obtained through a thematic review of literature related to the topic of study. Consequently, the study gathered important information on the AIM social transformation in Machakos District in the colonial and the early post-colonial periods. The findings of the study therefore provide important information on the role played by AIM in social transformation, especially in Machakos District vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................... ii COPYRIGHT ............................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION.............................................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ x LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS ............................................................................ xii GLOSSARY OF TERMS .......................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Study .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Research Questions .................................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Justification for the Study ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study ...................................................................................................... 4 1.7 Definition of Key Terms .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.8 Literature Review and Theoretical Framework ................................................................................. 7 1.9 Research Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 24 ELEMENTS OF KAMBA SOCIAL LIFE BEFORE FOREIGN INTERVENTION ......... 24 2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Kamba Traditional Religion ................................................................................................................. 24 2.3 Kamba Rites of Passage ........................................................................................................................ 30 2.4 Kamba Traditional Healthcare System ............................................................................................. 41 2.5 Kamba Concept of Time ....................................................................................................................... 46 2.6 Music and Dance ....................................................................................................................................