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Kenya - Other Group

By far the fastest growing Unitarian community is in Kenya.  In fact, it is four main communities, but all owe their discovery of Unitarianism to Rev. Patrick Magara.  Patrick is our only ordained minister in Kenya, although his ordination came from the Seventh Day Adventist tradition.  He discovered Unitarianism in 2001 and soon convinced his congregation to follow him into his new faith. 

It’s hard to pin down a firm number of Unitarians in Kenya, but it is certainly over 500 in four major groups.  Five years ago there were none...Zero. 
The growth is hard to ignore.  Why so much growth so fast?  Kenyan Unitarians are willing to spread the word of their faith.  Some preach in market places.  Some talk to groups from other churches.  There are many cases where entire congregations have ‘converted’ to Unitarianism.  And then there is the outreach of their community social programs and schools.  Anyone can participate, but the WILL hear about our faith.  No one is forced to convert, but all who come in contact with Kenyan Unitarians will learn something about us.

In Kenya the separation of faith and living is literally unthinkable.  Ask the Kenyan Unitarians about their church and they won’t talk about worship or membership numbers.  Instead they will tell you about their projects: the women’s groups, the working cooperatives, the AIDS orphanages, the volunteer-run schools.  To be a Unitarian there is to be involved in the community in a faithful way. 

Closer to Nairobi are two other groups, one in rural Ruai and one in the city. The Ruai group week in and week out feed 100 schoolchildren a hot lunch.  And right now both groups are helping support some of the more than 400,000 people displaced by January’s violence.

Worship under the trees in Kenya

Kisii School Program

Ruai hot lunch program

ICUU President Gordon Oliver and Alice Magara in 2007

Patrick Magara and ICUU President Brian Kiely, 2008