Osebe, Nahashon Nyasimi (1904–1977)

By Godfrey K. Sang

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Godfrey K. Sang is a historical researcher and writer with an interest in Adventist history. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton and a number of qualifications from other universities. He is a published author. He is the co-author of the book On the Wings of a Sparrow: How the Seventh-day Adventist Church Came to Western Kenya

First Published: January 28, 2020

Nahashon Nyasimi Osebe was the first Adventist lay evangelist to work among the Kipsigis.

Nahashon Nyasimi Osebe was born in 1904 at Magwagwa village at the border between the Kipsigis and the Kisii.1 He became an Adventist and was baptized at the Nyaiguta SDA Church in Kisii in 1932. He married Eunice Nyokari Obwoge in 1934 at the Nyanchwa Mission. He came to Kebeneti in Kipsigis country to visit his brother in 1936 and it was here that he became an active Adventist evangelist. He brought to the faith Stephen araap Biomdo and his sister-in-law Martha Biomdo who became the first Kipsigis Adventists. Together with Nahashon, they became charter members of the Kebeneti Seventh-day Adventist Church. Nahashon was also responsible for bringing to the faith Mika araap Komuilong, who was a charter member of the Marumbasi church, the next church to be organized after Kebeneti. Other charter members of Marumbasi, which was organized in 1953, include Samuel araap Koros, Daniel Soi, Jeremiah Kirui (later a prominent chief), Solomon araap Chumo, and his brother Musa Chumo.

Nahashon preached through much of Kipsigis country, including Kabokyek, together with Johana araap Telo. He also preached in southern Kipsigis country. He was blessed with three sons and a daughter: James Cheruiyot, born 1944; Isaac Cheruiyot, born 1948; Samson Cheruiyot, born 1952; and Loise, born 1956.

In 1971 Osebe moved to Borborwet near Kipkok (two miles from Sondu). Here he organized a church at Baregeywet and settled on a small farm nearby. Coming under intense pressure, Nahashon abandoned the Adventist Church and joined the SDA Reform, an off-shoot denomination linked to traditional Adventism. His children, however, remained Adventists. His son Samson served as elder in the church founded by his father at Kipkok. Nahashon Osebe died in 1977.

Source

Sang, Godfrey K. and Hosea K. Kili, On the Wings of a Sparrow: How the Seventh-day Adventist Church Came to Western Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya: Gapman Publications Ltd., 2017.

Notes

  1. Note

    Information in this article has been adapted from the following book coauthored by the author of this article: Godfrey K. Sang, and Hosea K. Kili, On the Wings of a Sparrow: How the Seventh-day Adventist Church Came to Western Kenya (Nairobi, Kenya: Gapman Publications Ltd., 2017), 182.

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Sang, Godfrey K. "Osebe, Nahashon Nyasimi (1904–1977)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 28, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=4I1T.

Sang, Godfrey K. "Osebe, Nahashon Nyasimi (1904–1977)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 28, 2020. Date of access February 19, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=4I1T.

Sang, Godfrey K. (2020, January 28). Osebe, Nahashon Nyasimi (1904–1977). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved February 19, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=4I1T.