Advanced +

Kenya Coast Field

By Paul H. Mnene

×

Paul H. Mnene

First Published: January 8, 2024

Audio

Kenya Coast Field was first organized in 1986.1 As of June 2021, it had 219 organized churches, a membership of 30,3392, a population estimated to include 6,655,588 people3, which gives it a population per member ratio of 1:219 as of June 2021.4

Overview of Kenya Coast Field

As the name suggests, Kenya Coast Field on Kenya’s seaboard runs from the border with Somalia in the North to the border with Tanzania in the Southern tip. It covers the counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Taita-Taveta, and parts of lower Makueni county. The Kenya Coast Field is home to a wide array of ethnic and racial groups, including the Mijikenda, Pokomo, Swahili, Taita, Taveta, Kamba, Arabs, and Cushitic people. There are many other migrant communities who live in the area.

Origins of Adventism at Kenya Coast

Adventism came to the Kenya Coast through the work of British missionary William Charles Samuel Raitt, who first entered the region in 1934.5 During the Autumn Council of 1932, the General Conference decided to transfer Tanganyika from the Northern European Division to the Central European Division. Uganda was elevated to its own Union.6 The EAU, under Superintendent Spencer G. Maxwell, now remained with Kenya and to that was added the Italian Somaliland.7 Maxwell decided to concentrate on Kenya and organized to move the work from the traditional South Nyanza region to the rest of Kenya.

Maxwell then formed three new mission stations – The Central Kenya Mission, the North-West Kenya Mission, and the Kenya Coast Mission. He placed W. W. Armstrong in charge of Central Kenya and placed himself in charge of the North-West Kenya Mission. The Coast Mission would also be managed by him. With the re-organization of Tanganyika, the workers from England were now transferred to Kenya. Maxwell then placed William Raitt to take charge of the Kenya Coast.

Raitt had been the missionary in charge of the Mwagala Mission in Mwagala Waswa in northern Tanganyika.8 He arrived by ship from Tanga and first settled at Port Reitz in Mombasa. He did not stay long, moving to Miritini, a short distance from Mombasa, where he acquired a five-acre plot. 9 Here, he began his ministry and brought to the faith several young people, among them Samwel Chiranzi, Francis Bemwaka Mwarua, Shadrack Fukwe Dena, David Dena, and Simeon Rumba. They were all from the Rabai ethnic group, except Rumba, who was a Duruma.

Raitt, who arrived with his wife Hilda, opened a Sabbath School at Miritini at a place called Mwamududu (another name for this place was Mwangoka) where he fellowshipped with the persons he had won for Christ. He was assisted by Pastor Petero Risase, the Tanganyika evangelist who had pioneered the Mission in Nchwanga, Uganda, together with Pastor Spencer Maxwell. Risase was an energetic evangelist, reaching out to people in the area and holding public meetings with them.

In 1935, Pastor Raitt secured a five-acre plot in Changamwe that had a house on it. He started a school there, and he put his five converts in a dormitory to begin their education. They continued with their studies, and in 1936, two more youth joined them. These were James Chapu and John Mwaruwa. The school at Changamwe now had a total of seven pupils. Mrs. Raitt, who was a qualified nurse, opened the Changamwe Adventist Dispensary, which soon became quite busy.

Kenya Coast Field Pioneers

In 1936, a man named Joshua Baha Makanda became a teacher in the school at Mariakani. During that year, a man named Andrea Ng’ombe asked Pastor Raitt to start a school at Tandia, but there was no land on which to put the school. Ng’ombe talked to his friend Job Ndoro about his intention to put up a school in that area. Ndoro donated the land for the school. A school and church were constructed at Tandia by, among others, Madago Kalama, Charo Tsuma, Tsoka Kalama, Nghwagu Kalama, and Dzaza Kalama. The first teacher at Tandia was Manuel Mwaruwa. Other teachers joined him, including Daniel Nyule (1936) and Samwel Chirazi (1939).

Teacher Daniel Nyule was transferred to Singwaya in 1939, and in 1940, he was transferred to Paziani. A teacher named Joseph Onyango was transferred to Tandia. In 1943, an evangelist and a teacher named Alfayo Otieno came in from Kisii to teach at Tandia. In the middle of that year, a teacher named Francis Bemwaka was sent to Tandia. In 1944, another teacher, Stephen Saro Petero, was sent to Tandia. In December 1944, Pastor Raitt left for Karura in Nairobi.

Spread and Development of Adventism in the Kenya Coast Field

In 1936, Pastor Raitt started more schools in Mariakani. These included Vevesi, Mwaeba, and Tandia. These schools also were locations were Sabbath Schools were held on Saturday. The first pupils at Tandia included: Robert Katana Msami, Samwel Katana Job, Kazungu Job (Swalehe), Nathan Nzai Ruwa, Shadrack Baya Katana, Kombe Nzai, Katana Madago, Methusela Kitsao Katuku, Karisa Njalo, and Kazungu Mazera.

In 1937, the gospel message moved from Tandia to Singwaya. Those won for Christ and who schooled at Singwaya included Andrea Mwasele, Simion Nguwa, Samson Dule, Japhet Bilahi, Joshua Mkami, Megi Joshua, Bibi Japhet Bilahi, and Bi Andrea Mwasele, who were adults by then. The youth included James Ndaa Tune, Joseph Kitole Katana, Samwel Andrea Mwasele, Raheli Andrea Mwasele, Livingstone Mwangiri, and Stephen Yaa Kithi.

Also in 1937, the Adventist message reached Mwahera, Hurirani and Miyani. A school was established at Hurirani in 1940 where Efraem Ongubo Onyoni was the teacher. The pioneer students at Hurirani in the year 1940 included adults Israeli Yeri, Joseph Mangale, Jeremia Kalume Tuva, Wilson Kimera, Kaboro Thoya, and Mrs. Thoya Kadhokoi. The young people included Reuben Kombe Yeri, Ezekiel Katana Konde, Samson Kahindi Konde, Thoya Kadhokoi, Malindo Konde (Gona Konde), and Yeri Mkamba.

Into Paziani

While the school started at Hurirani in 1940, the gospel reached Paziani that same year, the following adults were won to Christ: Daniel Chai Nzaro, Simion Mwambegu Kongo, Bagai Chome Mkongo, William Karisa Mwamose, Elijah Mwatsuma Manjewa, Ngala Bokia, Esta Kizi Mwatsuma, Bi Ngala Bokia, Samwel Gohu Manjewa, Kombe Tsuma, and Bi Grace Kombe Tsuma. The youth included Haggai Chome, Kirao Mumba, William Karisa Mwamose, Kenga Saidi, Mangale Saidi, Katana Mangi, Shilingi Mangi, Charo Mwatsuma, Katana Mwatsuma, Mkutano Washe, Juba Kenga, Katana Mumba, Ngala Gohu, Ngala Mkenga, Kiponda Mkenga, Kadhengi Mlewa, Charo Kuchacha, Kambi Tsori, Katana Tsori, Kaingu Jangaa, Nyevu Ngala, Makuta Washe, and Karisa Jangaa.

Crossing the River Sabaki

Some of the youth who were brought to the faith at Paziani were taken to school at Changamwe. In the middle of 1940, the Adventist faith crossed the River Sabaki to Mbaoni. Pastor Spencer Maxwell accompanied Pastor Raitt on the journey to cross the Sabaki into Mbaoni.10 They forded the Sabaki River, which at that time was at flood levels, together with the Singwaya believers who helped them carry their loads. It was not easy entering the place, facing resistance from the people there.11 They people were brought to the faith: Thomas Murabu Tune, Bi Thomas Murabu, Ndaa Tune, Mramba Tune, and Bi Muramba. The young people included Justus Tune Thomas, Kalume Thomas, Katana Thomas, and Kajogolo Thomas.

To Dulukiza

The school at Hurirani was later transferred to Dulukiza in 1941 while still under Onyoni. However, Onyoni did not stay for long and was replaced by Daniel Mwanyule, who had come from Rare in the same year. The following were pioneers at Dulukiza in 1941: Johana Ngowa Ziro, Petero Ngowa, Tomas Karisa Kidhuma, Raheli Kache wife to Tomas, Samwel Kazungu Mizigo, Kapilo, Sera Johana Mungoja, Esta Ngowa, Mapea Ngowa, and Kazungu Chamongoni. The youth included Josia Mwaringa, S. Saro Ngowa, Hando Mapea, Kache Mapea, Kasichana Mgoja, Zablon Ziro Ngowa, Ngowa Mapea, and Kadzo Ngowa. All pupils from Hurirani and Dulukiza school accepted Jesus’ call in 1941. The young people at Dulukiza were sent to Changamwe Boarding School for learning.

Two schools were started at the same time in 1942. These were Chakama Ziani and Chakama Makongeni. The pioneers in these schools included: Joseph Karisa (Tsanga Tsanga), Joshua Kazungu, Justus Kazungu, David Kahindi Kalume, Samwel Kazungu Rimba, John Kenga Rimba, and Karisa Randa. All these were taken to Changamwe Boarding School in 1943 where fees for boarders was Sh. 15. Other day schools were charging 50 cents as school fees per year. The majority of those who were accommodated as pupils in Changamwe were adults.12

As stated above, schools played a major role in the spread of the Adventist message along the Coastal strip of Kenya.

To the Kauma People

The Kauma are a part of the Mijikenda of the Coast. In 1937, they sent a delegation to meet with Pastor Raitt to ask for a school and a teacher. Raitt did not have a teacher to send, but one of the Kauma, who had joined the Changamwe school and who could read and write well, was prepared to go and work among his people.13 Raitt sent Risase to accompany the young man, and they soon established a school and a church. On April 8, 1939, the first of the Kauma believers were baptized. They were six.14 There were 30 more in baptismal class. Petero Risase was already an ordained pastor. Of the six who were baptized, five were right away sent to work as evangelists.15

Spread of Adventism to Taveta Country

Taveta is situated at the border of Kenya and Tanzania. It neighbors Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is in Tanzania. According to Hannah, a veterinary officer from Taveta called Hezekiah Joseph Nging’ara with his wife Hannah Hezekiah worked among the Mijikenda people at a place called Gotani near Mariakani. The Anglican Church was strong in this area, their first missionaries arriving in the 1840s. In 1962, a Giriama man named Ayubu Chai visited them from Kaloleni, Giriama, and began conducting Bible studies. Two years later (1964), they accepted the Adventist message, and they were baptized at Mwanjama in Kaloleni.

This couple, together with their five children, returned home to Taveta in 1965 and began worshipping on the Sabbath day in their own house.16 Sabbath worship was unknown in Taveta because of the dominance of the Anglican and Catholic churches. People were surprised to see a strange faith in their land and named it Dini ya Hezekiah (Hezekiah’s religion).

Not long after that, two Tanzanians who were Adventists from Tanzania called Harun and Awaichi came to Taveta and joined this family in worshipping on the Sabbath days. An Adventist youth from Watamu called Jonathan Kithi Yaa came to teach at the Kambini Primary School, thus adding to the number of Adventists. Other members of the extended family such as Fredrick Lesili, Priscilla Daniel, and Danieli Meowi were evangelized by Hezekiah’s family and accepted the Adventist message. Because other people were added, worshipping at this home was not convenient, so the Adventist group started a Sabbath School at the Kambini Primary School.17 In 1974, the family of Hezekiah Nging’ara left Taveta for Malindi, leaving a vibrant Sabbath School behind. That is how the Adventist message reached Taveta.18

Kenya Coast Field Administrative Unit

The Church’s administrative structures and facilities organized in the area include the centers, churches, schools, and stations. According to Mwatsuma, centers that had a Seventh-day Adventists presence in Kenya Coast Mission between 1934 to 1983 were: Changamwe, Mombasa, Ramisi, Mariakani, Mwangoka, Maamba, Vevesi, Mwaeba, Tandia, Dulukiza, Hurirani, Singwaya, Paziani, Mbaoni, Lower and Higher Chakama, Voi, Taveta, Malindi, Kilifi, Kizumo, Garissa, Mpeketoni, Wajir, Mandera, Hola, Bura, and Bomani.

Schools that were functioning during that time include: Changamwe, Mwangoka, Mariakani, Vevesi, Mwaeba, Mwakolo, Tandia, Rare, Dulukiza, Chakama Makonjeni, Chakama Ziani, Ramisi, Mamba, Uyombo, Majaoni, Singwaya, Paziani, Mbaoni, Malindi (Sabaki) Mgandini, Kikombe Tele, Kizumo, Mnazimmwenga, Mavueni Kiriba, then it was transferred to Takaungu, and Mere (this school was established on January 31, 1958).

By God’s grace, some of the centers with an Adventist presence became organized churches. Following are the churches that were functioning between 1960 to 1983: Changamwe, Mombasa Ziwani, Kwale Jibana, Majaoni, Lukore, Kikoneni, Mere, Malindi, Bomani, Gongoni, Watamu, Singwaya, Dakacha, Mamba, Sungululu, and Taveta.

Further Work at the Kenya Coast

The Raitts remained in the Coast until 1944, then they moved to Karura near Nairobi, taking over from Pastor D. M. Swaine.19 In 1945, there was no European missionary at Changamwe. In May 1946, American missionary Pastor W. K. Mansker moved to take over from Raitt.20 Mansker opened the work in Malindi, doing excellent work among the people there. He organized a Campmeeting at Malindi in August 1947 and invited the renowned preacher Pastor John Rubenheimer from South Africa as the chief speaker.21 Raubenheimer at that time was the president of the Natal-Transvaal Conference in South Africa.22 With the departure of Mrs. Raitt, it became difficult to run the Changamwe Dispensary. Mrs. Mansker was a teacher23 who taught at the Changamwe Girl’s School established in 1940.24 She had an enrollment of 10 in the first year.

In 1950, the Manskers left, returning to America. In their place came L. D. Brown in 1952,25 then followed shortly by K. J. Berry in 1953.26 In 1955, H. Ng’homano from Tanganyika became the first African to run the Kenya Coast Mission.27 He worked until 1961 when Pastor Reuben K. Yeri took over. Pastor Yeri was the first Kenyan to run the mission.

The Organization of the Kenya Coast Field

When the work of God advanced, there was a need to subdivide Kenya into evangelistic territories. Due to this, the present Kenya Coast Field became Kenya Coast Mission in 1983. Pastor Reuben K. Kamundi was elected and became the executive director of Kenya Coast Mission from 1983 to 1985.

In 1986, Kenya Coast Mission became Kenya Coast Field, and elections were conducted. Pastor Reuben K. Kamundi was elected the first executive director.

In 1994, Kenya Coast Field was divided into regions to enhance God’s work. These regions were called stations, and pastors were elected as station directors to oversee God’s work in each station. Following are the names of the stations and pastors who were elected as station directors for each station: Mombasa Station - Pastor J. Kazungu; Mombasa West - Pastor H. K. Solomon; South Coast - Pastor F. S. Hangio; Malindi Station - Pastor R. K. Yeri; North Eastern - Pastor R. N. Nzaka; Taita Taveta - Pastor B. Mwachala28

Institutions

There are two schools that are managed by the Kenya Coast Field. One is in Malindi and is called Mere Adventist Primary School, and the other is in Mombasa and is called Changamwe Adventist Secondary School.29 Different churches have started schools such the Coast Central Church Adventist Academy, Bamburi Great News School, Ziwani Adventist Academy, Ukunda Central Academy, Diani Emyland Academy, Mariakani Adventist Academy, Maji ya Chumvi Academy, and Chumani Adventist School.30

Kenya Coast Field managed to buy a radio station which is called Sheki FM. The radio station was bought from Pauline Msalame, the wife of the late Tony Msalame. According to Wamukota, Sheki FM has impacted the lives of many people who listen to its programs. Through Sheki FM, 148 souls were baptized at a place called Mtsara wa Tsatsu. There are three Sabbath Schools which have been established at Bamba.31 Currently, the radio station is located at Tononoka, Mombasa City.

The medical sector has not been left behind in the evangelization of good news in the area. According to Baya, Watamu SDA Dispensary was established in 1986 in a place called Watamu which is about 20km. from Malindi Kenya. This facility treats about 400 to 500 people per month. Even though there are other private and public health facilities in the area, many people prefer this Adventist medical facility to other medical facilities that are in the area. The facility conducts free medical camps and medical outreaches. These have made the people appreciate services they receive from this Adventist facility.32

Challenges to Mission and What Remains to be Done

There are challenges in the Kenya Coast, among them: 1) there are many unreached people groups of different religious backgrounds; 2) Kenya Coast Field has many different communities, hence language can be a barrier to outreach; 3) lack of funds and resources hinder mission work; and 4) illiteracy on the part of some indigenous nomadic tribes who cannot read and write are a hinderance to mission work.

The church leadership and local churches invite sponsor global mission pioneers to send them to the unentered territories and take the world of God to the unreached people groups. The church seeks persons from each tribe to send them to theological school so that they can return and minister among their people.33

Executive Directors of the Kenya Coast Field

Reuben K. Kamundi (1986-1994); Ishmael K. Baya (1994-2000); Joshua Kirui (2001-2005); James Githui (2006)34; Zacharia Marwa (2007-2015); Daniel K. Yeri (2016- ).

Sources

ARH, March 7, 1946.

KNBS: List of Census 2019 Population Per County in Kenya, “Distribution of Population by County Table 2.2: Distribution of population by sex and county,” table retrieved from: kenyayote.com, accessed on April 24, 2020.

Missionary Worker, March 10, 1933.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Southern Africa Division Outlook, October 15, 1947.

The Advent Survey, January 1, 1933; December 1, 1934; June 1, 1939; January 1, 1941.

The Church Officer’s Gazette, October 1, 1940.

Notes

  1. “Kenya Coast Field,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (2022), 63.↩

  2. Ibid.↩

  3. List of Census 2019 Population Per County in Kenya, “Distribution of Population by County Table 2.2: Distribution of population by sex and county,” table retrieved from kenyayote.com, accessed on April 24, 2020.↩

  4. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 2022.↩

  5. Pastor Johnson Charo Mwatsuma received the Adventist message at Paziani in 1940. When Mere Adventist School was established in 1958, he became the first headmaster for Mere School. He worked as a pastor and as a department head in Kenya Coast Field and retired from active service in 1996.↩

  6. E. D. Dick, “The Business of the Council,” The Advent Survey 5, January 1, 1933, 11.↩

  7. S. G. Maxwell, “Changes in East Africa,” The Missionary Worker, March 10, 1933, 8.↩

  8. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1933), 95.↩

  9. E. D. Dick, “With Our Missions in East Africa,” The Advent Survey, December 1, 1935, 4-5.↩

  10. S. G. Maxwell, “Touching a Few New Openings,” The Church Officer’s Gazette 27, October 1, 1940, 31.↩

  11. Ibid.↩

  12. Johnson Charo Mwatsuma, “Historia ya Kanisa la Seventh-day Adventist Pwani: Kenya Coast Field Ilivyoanzishwa Mwaka 1934” (A Swahili-written manuscript).↩

  13. E. D. Dick, “With Our Missions in East Africa,” The Advent Survey, June 1, 1939, 6.↩

  14. Ibid.↩

  15. Ibid.↩

  16. Their home was at Miembeni in Taveta.↩

  17. Kambini Primary School is currently called Taveta Primary School.↩

  18. Hanah Hezekiah, wife to the late Hezekiah Joseph Nging’ara, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Miembeni-Taveta, interview by author via phone, May 5, 2020.↩

  19. “Kenya Coast Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1945), 160.↩

  20. ARH, March 7, 1946, 16.↩

  21. J. Raubenheimer, “Camp-meetings in East Africa,” Southern Africa Division Outlook, October 15, 1947, 2.↩

  22. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1946), 173.↩

  23. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1949), 175.↩

  24. S. G. Maxwell, “Camps in Kenya,” The Advent Survey, January 1, 1941, 5.↩

  25. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1953), 365.↩

  26. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1954), 184.↩

  27. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1956), 158.↩

  28. Johnson Charo Mwatsuma, “Historia ya Kanisa la Seventh-day Adventist Pwani: Kenya Coast Field Ilivyoanzishwa Mwaka 1934” (A Swahili-written manuscript).↩

  29. Hassan Roronyo, Education Department director, Kenya Coast Field Headquarters Office, Bamburi, Mombasa, interview by author via phone, May 7, 2020.↩

  30. Ibid.↩

  31. Jason Wamukota, Sheki FM radio station manager, Tononoka, Mombasa, interview by author via phone, May 7, 2020.↩

  32. Patrick K. Baya, Health Ministries Department director, Kenya Coast Field Headquarters Office, Bamburi, Mombasa, interview by author via phone, May 10, 2020.↩

  33. Elijah Amoro, Personal Ministries Department director, Kenya Coast Field Headquarters Office, Bamburi, Mombasa, interview by author via phone, May 7, 2020.↩

  34. Pastor James Githui served as president of Kenya Coast Field for only nine months. He died due to an illness in September 2006.↩

×

, Paul H. Mnene. "Kenya Coast Field." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 08, 2024. Accessed May 08, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=FFC0.

Copy to clipboard Download Word File

, Paul H. Mnene. "Kenya Coast Field." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 08, 2024. Date of access May 08, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=FFC0.

Copy to clipboard Download Word File

, Paul H. Mnene (2024, January 08). Kenya Coast Field. Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved May 08, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=FFC0.

Copy to clipboard Download Word File